The most common theme in Ob.

Maternal Gestational Weight Gain and Offspring Weight in Adolescence

Oken, Emily MD, MPH; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L. MPH; Field, Alison E. ScD; Frazier, A Lindsay MD, SM; Gillman, Matthew W. MD, SM

Obstetrics & Gynecology. 112(5):999-1006, November 2008.

doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31818a5d50

Higher maternal gestational weight gain is associated with increased body mass index and risk of obe…

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study associations of maternal gestational weight gain with offspring weight status in adolescence.

METHODS: We surveyed 11,994 adolescents aged 9-14 years enrolled in the Growing Up Today Study cohort and their mothers, members of the Nurses’ Health Study II. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression to study associations of gestational weight gain with offspring adiposity.

RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) gestational weight gain was 31.5 (11.2) pounds, and offspring body mass index (BMI) z score (BMI standardized for age and sex) was 0.15 (1.0) units; 6.5% of adolescents were obese (BMI 95th percentile or higher) (BMI is calculated as weight [kg]/[height (m)] 2). Gestational gain was linearly associated with adolescent adiposity: compared with 20-24 pounds, gain less than 10 pounds was associated with child BMI z score 0.25 units lower (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.47 to -0.04), and gain 45 pounds or more with BMI z score 0.18 units higher (95% CI 0.11-0.25). Compared with women with adequate gain according to 1990 Institute of Medicine guidelines, women with excessive gain had children with higher BMI z scores (0.14 units, 95% CI 0.09-0.18) and risk of obesity (odds ratio 1.42, 95% CI 1.19-1.70). The predicted prevalence of term low birth weight declined modestly across the range of gain (2% for gain less than 10 pounds, 1% for gain 45 pounds or more), whereas term high birth weight increased dramatically with higher gain (10% for gain less than 10 pounds, 35% for gain of 45 pounds or more).

CONCLUSION: Gestational mothers weight gain is directly associated with BMI and risk of obesity in adolescence . Revised gestational weight-gain guidelines should account for influences on child weight.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

(C) 2008 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

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