Work

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and epilepsy in the offspring: A population-based cohort study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and non-optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with epilepsy in the offspring. DESIGN, SETTING, POPULATION: We studied 3,816,438 children born between 2007 and 2015 ascertained from the California birth records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Childhood epilepsy was ascertained using the diagnostic records from the California's Department of Developmental Services. METHODS: ) and non-optimal GWG (kg), adjusting for confounders. We compared maternal pre-pregnancy overweight (25 ≤ BMI <30) or obese (BMI ≥ 30) to normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI <25) as the reference. Further, we compared maternal gestational weight loss, insufficient or excessive GWG, to sufficient GWG as the reference, classified using the Institute of Medicine standard. Analyses among term births only were performed to address shorter cumulative times for weight gain among preterm deliveries. RESULTS: Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight (RR:1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.22) and obesity (RR:1.31, 95% CI: 1.20-1.44) were associated with higher risk of childhood epilepsy in the full cohort, with similar results observed among term births. No association was observed for maternal insufficient or excessive GWG and childhood epilepsy. Gestational weight loss (RR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.15-1.86) was associated with childhood epilepsy among obese and overweight mothers, but the association became null among term births. CONCLUSIONS: While maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity were modestly associated with childhood epilepsy in California, no clear pattern emerged for maternal non-optimal gestational weight gain.

Source: Epilepsy Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2026.107760

Authors: Jiawen Chen, Haoran Zhuo, Tormod Rogne, Zeyan Liew

Institutions: Yale University, University of Oslo

Language: English

Topic: Gestational Diabetes Research and Management

Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,880