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Obesity among offspring of women with type 1 diabetes
S Rodrigues1, A M Ferris, R Peréz-Escamilla
1School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Que.
Insights
Children born to mothers with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of childhood obesity. Maternal education and pregnancy weight gain were associated with obesity in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Maternal type 1 diabetes can impact offspring development.
- Understanding long-term health outcomes in children of diabetic mothers is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the growth and body composition of children born to women with type 1 diabetes.
- To compare these outcomes with children born to non-diabetic mothers.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study followed 17 offspring of mothers with type 1 diabetes and 18 control offspring (ages 5.9-9.0 years).
- Measurements included anthropometrics, nutrient intake, physical activity, and body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis.
- Obesity was defined using multiple criteria including BMI, body fat percentage, and skinfold thickness.
Main Results:
- Seven obese children were identified in the type 1 diabetes group, versus none in the control group (p=0.007).
- Obesity was not linked to birth weight, body fat patterning, nutrient intake, physical activity, or maternal glycemic control.
- Mothers of obese children had lower education levels and greater pregnancy weight gain.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity is a significant concern for nondiabetic children of mothers with type 1 diabetes.
- Further research is needed to explore the links between childhood obesity and maternal education/pregnancy weight gain.
Objective:
To determine subsequent growth and body composition of children born to women with type 1 diabetes compared with controls.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Follow-up of offspring born to women with type 1 diabetes and controls from an earlier study of diabetes and lactation.
Subjects:
Seventeen nondiabetic offspring of women with type 1 diabetes and 18 offspring of control women (age range 5.9 to 9.0 years).
Outcome Measures:
Anthropometric measures at follow-up included height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness. Information on usual nutrient intakes and physical activity patterns was elicited through questionnaires. Body composition was determined from skinfold thickness measures and bioelectrical impedance analysis. A child was identified as obese if he or she met at least 2 of the following 4 criteria for obesity: (1) weight-for-height equal to or greater than 120% of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference median plus triceps skinfold greater than the 85th percentile; (2) body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile for age and sex; (3) percent body fat (from impedance measures) equal to or greater than 25 for boys and 30 for girls; or (4) percent body fat (from sum of skinfold measures) equal to or greater than 25 for boys and 30 for girls.
Results:
There were 7 obese children in the type 1 diabetes group and none in the control group (p = 0.007). Obese children did not differ from nonobese children in birth weight, body fat patterning, nutrient intake, physical activity patterns, maternal pregravid weight or blood glucose control during the last trimester of pregnancy. Mothers of obese children, however, had fewer years of education and gained more weight during pregnancy compared with mothers of nonobese children in the type 1 diabetes group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Obesity during childhood is a significant problem among nondiabetic children of women with type 1 diabetes. The association of childhood obesity with lower maternal education and excessive pregnancy weight gain warrants further investigation.
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