Heavy Moms, Wheezy Kids: How Maternal Obesity Harms Breathing in Offspring

Offspring asthma has emerged as a significant yet underexplored consequence of maternal obesity. This review synthesizes evidence from human and animal studies linking maternal obesity to increased asthma risk in offspring. We examine potential mechanisms, including impaired fetal lung development, epigenetic modifications, microbiome alterations, and metabolic dysregulation. A dedicated section focuses on the novel role of insulin signaling in the developmental programming of airway hyperresponsiveness, as insulin resistance-and the resulting hyperinsulinemia-is common in offspring of obese mothers. By integrating current findings and identifying key research gaps, this review outlines future directions to advance understanding and mitigation of maternal obesity's impact on offspring respiratory health.