Birth weight predicts the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and pregravid obesity.

OBJECTIVES

It has been suggested that birth weight may determine metabolic abnormalities later in life. The aim of the current study was to assess the association between birth weight and future risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregravid obesity in a homogenous sample of Caucasian Polish women.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we collected the medical reports of 787 women with GDM and 801 healthy pregnant women. We analyzed the following data: birth weight, age, pregravid weight, prior GDM, prior macrosomia, parity, and family history of diabetes.

RESULTS

Birth weight was inversely associated with the risk of GDM; for each decrease in birth weight of 500 g, the risk increased by 11% (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.21). Birth weight was a strong predictor of GDM independent of other risk factors (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.09-1.31), and it was positively correlated with pregravid weight (R = 0.21; P < 0.00001). An increase in birth weight of 500 g substantially increased the risk of overweight and obesity (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01-1.34 and OR, 1.35; 95% CI 1.11-1.64, respectively). Each of the traditional risk factors for GDM were also strong predictors of pregravid obesity: age (P < 0.0001), prior GDM (P < 0.01), prior macrosomia (P < 0.0001), multiparity (P < 0.0001), and maternal (but not paternal) history of diabetes (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among Caucasian Polish women, the risk of GDM is associated with low birth weight, and pregravid obesity is associated with high birth weight. Traditional risk factors for GDM, including maternal (but not paternal) history of diabetes, are also risk factors for pregravid obesity.