Both too much or little weight gain during pregnancy not good for baby

Written by Medha Baranwal Baranwal Published On 2018-09-19T19:15:50+05:30 | Updated On 19 Sept 2018 7:15 PM IST

"Our findings support the notion that adverse intrauterine exposures are associated with persistent cardiometabolic risk in the offspring," write the authors.

There have been various studies on the effects of weight gain during pregnancy (gestational weight gain or GWG), however, data on the metabolic effects in the children subsequently born have not been comprehensively studied. Wing Hung Tam, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, and colleagues conducted the study to evaluate the relationship between GWG and cardiometabolic risk in offspring aged 7 years.

The study included a total of 905 mother-child pairs who were enrolled in the follow-up visit of the multicentre Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome study, at the study center in Hong Kong. Women were classified as having gained weight below, within or exceeding the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines. Also factored in the study were standardized GWG values based on a pre-pregnancy body-mass index (BMI).

Key Findings:

Among the 905 women, the mean pre-pregnancy BMI was 21 kg/m2, the total prevalence of overweight and/or obese participants was 8.3%.

The weight change from pre-pregnancy to delivery was 15kg on average, with 17% having gained weight below, 42% having gained weight within and 41% having gained weight exceeding the IOM recommendation.

Independent of pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational hyperglycaemia and other confounders, women who gained more weight than the IOM recommendation had offspring with larger body size at age 7 years, and increased odds of higher body fat, high blood pressure and poor blood sugar control, while women who gained less than the recommendation had offspring with increased risks of high blood pressure and poor blood sugar control at 7 years of age, compared with those who gained weight within the recommended range.

The authors say: "We found evidence of linkage between GWG and several cardiometabolic risk factors in the offspring aged 7 years, independently of maternal BMI prior to pregnancy and glucose level during pregnancy. These findings have important implications for both prevention and treatment. There is a need for greater awareness and monitoring of weight gain during pregnancy. Pregnancy might be a potential window of opportunity for intervention through modifiable behaviors, including maternal nutrition and physical activity."

"Although limiting excessive GWG may help minimize the intergenerational cycle of obesity, the benefits of lower weight gain must be balanced against other cardiometabolic risks -- such as high blood pressure and poorer blood sugar control --and risk of stunted growth in the offspring if GWG is inadequate." they further substantiate.

"Long-term follow-up of these children is necessary to evaluate the effect of maternal GWG on cardiometabolic risk in adolescence and adulthood," they concluded.

For further reference follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-018-4724-x

BMIbody mass indexcardiometabolicchildhoodchildrendiabetesDiabetologiaGAINgestationalgrowthHypertensioninfantinsulin resistancematernalObesityPregnancyriskweightWing Hung Tam

Source : With inputs from Diabetologia

Disclaimer: This site is primarily intended for healthcare professionals. Any content/information on this website does not replace the advice of medical and/or health professionals and should not be construed as medical/diagnostic advice/endorsement or prescription. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use, privacy policy, advertisement policy. © 2020 Minerva Medical Treatment Pvt Ltd

Medha Baranwal Baranwal