Maternal prepregnancy obesity and child neurodevelopment in the Collaborative Perinatal Project

Lisu Huang; Xiaodan Yu; Sarah Keim; Ling Li; Lin Zhang; Jun Zhang

doi:10.1093/ije/dyu030

Maternal prepregnancy obesity and child neurodevelopment in the Collaborative Perinatal Project

Int J Epidemiol. 2014 Jun;43(3):783-92. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyu030. Epub 2014 Feb 24.

Authors

Lisu Huang¹, Xiaodan Yu², Sarah Keim², Ling Li², Lin Zhang², Jun Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health and Department of Pediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Biobehavioral Health, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Pediatrics and Division of Epidemiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Obstetrics, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaMOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health and Department of Pediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Biobehavioral Health, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Pediatrics and Division of Epidemiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Obstetrics, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
² MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health and Department of Pediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Biobehavioral Health, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Pediatrics and Division of Epidemiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Obstetrics, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
³ MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health and Department of Pediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Biobehavioral Health, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Pediatrics and Division of Epidemiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA and Department of Obstetrics, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China junjimzhang@gmail.com.

PMID: 24569381
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyu030

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between maternal prepregnancy weight and child neurodevelopment, and the effect of gestational weight gain.

Methods: Using the U.S. Collaborative Perinatal Project data, 1959-76, a total of 30,212 women with a calculable prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain, and term singleton children followed up for more than 7 years were included in this study. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was measured at 7 years of age by Wechsler Intelligence Scales.

Results: Maternal prepregnancy BMI displayed inverted U-shaped associations with child IQ after adjustment for maternal age, maternal education levels, maternal race, marital status, socioeconomic status, smoking during pregnancy, parity and study center. Women with BMI at around 20 kg/m2 appeared to have the highest offspring IQ scores. After controlling for familial factors in the siblings' sample, maternal obesity (BMI≥30.0 kg/m2) was associated with lower Full-scale IQ (adjusted ß=-2.0, 95% confidence interval -3.5 to -0.5), and Verbal scale IQ (adjusted ß=-2.5, 95% confidence interval -4.0 to -1.0), using BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 as the reference category. Compared with children born to normal-weight women who gained 21-25 lb. during pregnancy, those born to obese women who gained more than 40 lb. had 6.5 points deficit in IQ after adjustment for potential confounders.

Conclusions: Maternal prepregnancy obesity was associated with lower child IQ, and excessive weight gain accelerated the association. With obesity rising steadily, these results appear to raise serious public health concerns.

Keywords: Pregnancy obesity, gestational weight gain, intelligence quotient (IQ).

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Body Mass Index
Child
Child Development*
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Intelligence Tests / statistics & numerical data*
Male
Obesity / epidemiology*
Parity
Pregnancy
Smoking / epidemiology
Socioeconomic Factors