Mid-pregnancy weight gain is associated with offspring adiposity outcomes in early childhood.

BACKGROUND

Gestational weight gain (GWG) has been linked to childhood obesity. However, it is unclear if the timing of weight gain influences offspring body composition. A secondary analysis of a clinical trial examined the influence of total, early, and mid-pregnancy GWG on adiposity outcomes in 186 children at birth, 1, 3, and 5 years.

METHODS

Early (<15 weeks) and mid-pregnancy GWG (15-32 weeks) were assessed. Anthropometrics and abdominal ultrasound were measured annually in children from birth to 5 years. MRI was performed in a sub-group of 44 children at 5 years to estimate abdominal fat.

RESULTS

Almost half of the women (n = 86/186) gained excess weight in pregnancy, and women with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (n = 33) were more likely to gain in excess. Mid-pregnancy GWG predicted higher weight (g) and subcutaneous fat by ultrasound (mm2) and MRI (cm3) at 5 years [β: 139.34 g (95% CI: -0.22; 278.90), p = 0.050; β: 1.42 mm2 (95% CI: 0.06; 2.78), p = 0.041; and β: 18.56 cm3 (95% CI: 1.30; 35.82) p = 0.036, respectively].

CONCLUSIONS

Mid-pregnancy weight gain was associated with greater fat depots at 5 years, which suggests that the timing of GWG has differential effects on offspring adiposity outcomes.

IMPACT: Gestational weight gained in mid-pregnancy is associated with growth and adipose tissue development at 5 years. We observed that maternal weight gain in early and mid-gestation has differential effects on offspring body composition. Mid-pregnancy weight gain (15-32 weeks gestation) appears to influence child growth and abdominal fat accretion which may have implications for long-term metabolic health. Interventions that prevent excessive gestational weight gain in mid-pregnancy may affect obesity risk in early childhood. Prenatal care should stress the importance of optimal weight gain throughout pregnancy.