The association between maternal pre‐pregnancy <scp>BMI</scp>, gestational weight gain and child adiposity: A racial‐ethnically diverse cohort of children
Kelly J. Hunt, Pamela L. Ferguson, Brian Neelon, Sarah Commodore, Michael S. Bloom, Anthony Sciscione, William A. Grobman, Michelle A. Kominiarek, Roger Newman, Alan Tita, Michael P. Nageotte, Kristy Palomares, Daniel Skupski, Cuilin Zhang, Stefanie N. Hinkle, Ronald J. Wapner, John E. Vena, ECHO‐FGS Study Group
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity in US children has more than tripled in the past 40 years; hence, it is critical to identify potentially modifiable factors that may mitigate the risk. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG) and child adiposity as measured by BMI, waist circumference and percent body fat in a racial-ethnically diverse cohort. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study of healthy women without chronic disease, we examined the association between pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG and child adiposity. Children ages 4-8 years (n = 816) in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes-NICHD Fetal Growth Studies were assessed. Trained study staff ascertained maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG and child adiposity. RESULTS: The odds of child obesity (≥95th BMI percentile) increased independently for each unit increase in maternal pre-pregnancy BMI [OR = 1.12 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.17)] and for each 5-kg increase in GWG [OR = 1.25 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.47)]. The odds of child waist circumference (≥85th percentile) also increased independently for pre-pregnancy BMI [OR = 1.09 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.12)] and GWG [OR = 1.18 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.34)]. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG were each independently and positively associated with child obesity and high child waist circumference.