Modifiable early life exposures associated with adiposity and obesity in 3‐year old children born to mothers with obesity
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Summary Background Children born to mothers with obesity are at increased risk of obesity. Influences underlying this predisposition include in‐utero exposures, genetic predisposition and a shared family environment. Effective intervention strategies are needed to prevent obesity in these high‐risk children; this requires evaluation of modifiable pregnancy and early‐life risk factors. Objectives To assess the individual and cumulative contributions of maternal and early‐life modifiable exposures on childhood adiposity and obesity outcomes in 3‐year‐old children born to women with obesity. Methods We used adjusted regression to assess the individual and cumulative contributions of six exposures (early pregnancy BMI, excessive gestational weight gain, mode of infant feeding and three measures of childhood eating habits [food responsiveness, slowness in eating and a processed/snacking dietary pattern score]) on body composition in 495 three‐year‐old children. Outcomes included BMI z‐score, arm circumference and overweight/obesity (BMI≥25.0 kg/m2). Results While the UPBEAT intervention did not influence adiposity outcomes in 3‐year‐old children, the six modifiable exposures combined incrementally to increase childhood adiposity and obesity. For each additional exposure, children had a higher BMI z‐score (β = 0.35SD [95% confidence interval: 0.23, 0.47]), arm circumference (β = 0.59 cm [0.40, 0.79]) and risk of overweight/obesity (relative risk 1.49 [1.26, 1.77]). Compared to no exposures, children with four or more exposures had a higher BMI z‐score (1.11SD [0.65, 1.58]), arm circumference (2.15 cm [1.41, 2.89]) and risk of overweight/obesity (3.01 [1.67, 5.41]) (all P < 0.001). Conclusion Our findings suggest that complex interventions targeting preconception, pregnancy, perinatal and early childhood exposures offer a potential strategy for prevention of pre‐school obesity.
Source: Pediatric Obesity
DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12801
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,200
Awards: The UPBEAT RCT mother-child study. Stratifying and treating obese pregnant women to prevent adverse pregnancy, perinatal and longer term outcomes., Programme 1: Musculoskeletal health in later life, G1563105402, G1652070670, G2566874064, Interdisciplinary Research Network on Early Adversity & Later Life Reversibility, Effect of a complex lifestyle intervention in pregnant obese women on childhood cardiovascular function, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, Improving pregnancy outcome in obese women, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, Programme 3: Early development and risk of adult musculoskeletal disease, Research Network on Later-Life Interventions to Reverse Effects of Early Life Adversity, Epigenetic biomarkers and determinants of cardiovascular risk in children, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre - Core Support, Nutrition, Development and Lifelong Health: Studies in European Populations, The influence of a complex intervention of diet and physical activity in obese pregnant women on the cardiometabolic phenotype of old children: analysis of the UPBEAT trial
OpenAlex ID: W3161666164