The greater a woman’s BMI in early pregnancy, the more likely her child is to develop overweight or obesity, study finds

New analysis being offered on the European Congress on Weight problems (ECO 2025) highlights the necessity to assist ladies and their households with chubby or weight problems to optimize their well being and weight earlier than they turn into pregnant.

The Australian research discovered the higher a girl’s BMI in being pregnant, the higher her kid’s weight from start to the age of ten. This was the case no matter whether or not the lady took half in a dietary and way of life intervention (LI) whereas pregnant or acquired normal antenatal care (SC). In addition they reported that the BMI of the daddy considerably influences the kid’s weight at age 10.

The outcomes are the newest from the LIMIT trial which concerned 2,121 pregnant ladies with chubby or weight problems (common age 29.4 years, median BMI 31.1 in early being pregnant).

Half of the ladies took half within the LI, which consisted of recommendation and assist for consuming a nutritious diet (for instance, consuming extra fruit and fiber and decreasing consumption of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats) and growing bodily exercise. The opposite contributors acquired normal antenatal care (normal care group, SC).

“Girls with chubby or weight problems are at elevated threat of being pregnant issues, like gestational diabetes, hypertension, cesarean start and excessive toddler start weight, and for his or her kids to develop weight problems,” says researcher Professor Jodie Dodd, of the College of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

“With roughly 50% of ladies getting into being pregnant with chubby or weight problems, the trial was carried out to see if modifications in weight-reduction plan and bodily exercise throughout being pregnant may scale back these dangers.”

The preliminary outcomes, which have been revealed in 2014, confirmed that infants whose moms took half within the LI group have been 18% much less more likely to have a start weight above 4kg (8lb 13oz), a identified threat for childhood weight problems. Nevertheless, there have been no different variations in maternal or start outcomes, together with being pregnant issues, between the 2 teams.

The kids have been additionally followed-up all through childhood. There was no proof of a distinction in well being or development of the kids from ladies in both the LI and SC group.

For the newest research, Professor Dodd and colleagues examined the impact of maternal BMI in early being pregnant on childhood weight and different measures of development taken at start and aged 6 months, 18 months, 3–5 years previous and eight–10 years previous.

They discovered {that a} kid’s development was linked to its mom’s BMI in early being pregnant—and that each 5kg/m2 enhance in a girl’s BMI was related to a rise of their kid’s BMI by 0.11kg/m2 at start, to 0.74kg/m2 at 8–10 years of age.

The impact of maternal BMI turned extra outstanding at age 3–5 years and was notably noticeable at 8–10 years. This was the case throughout the completely different measures of kid development studied—BMI, weight and their standardized measures. Moreover, paternal BMI impacted youngster weight and BMI, notably at ages 8–10 years.

Professor Dodd says, “We all know that ladies residing with chubby or weight problems are at elevated threat of issues like hypertension in being pregnant. We additionally know that way of life interventions throughout being pregnant are ineffective for bettering well being outcomes for girls and their child/youngster.

“What we discovered right here was {that a} girl’s BMI in early being pregnant impacts how her youngster grows from start to eight–10 years of age, so, if a girl’s BMI is larger going into being pregnant, her kid’s threat of chubby and weight problems will increase too. Fathers even have a task to play, as paternal BMI additionally contributes to youngster weight problems.

“It is important that well being care suppliers concentrate on supporting ladies and their households to optimize their well being and weight earlier than being pregnant, if we’re to intervene and doubtlessly scale back the intergenerational cycle of weight problems.”

Supplied by
European Affiliation for the Examine of Weight problems