Effect of maternal high body mass index on outcome of pregnancy in women with recurrent miscarriages

The epidemic of obesity is spreading worldwide and subsequently, rate of obesity during pregnancy has also increased. Maternal overweight and obesity are widely associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Recurrent miscarriage is an important reproductive health issue, because it affects many couples. So the present study is planned to study the relationship between maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent miscarriages. Observational Cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. 111 Postnatal women between 18 to 44 years of age with history of two or more miscarriages less than 20 weeks of gestation in previous pregnancy were included in the study. First trimester weight at the first visit (registration) was recorded, BMI was calculated & women were divided into obese and non obese groups. The outcome of present pregnancy was noted as Mode of delivery, Gestational diabetes mellitus, Pregnancy induced hypertension, Preterm delivery etc. Statistical tests were used to quantify the risk. Gestational diabetes (OR= 13.6) and pregnancy induced hypertension (OR=4.2) were significantly associated with obesity in women with recurrent miscarriages. [At 95% CI] The incidence of LSCS and preterm delivery was more in overweight and obese mothers, though not statistically significant. Maternal obesity significantly contributes to poor prognosis for the mother and the baby during delivery. Hence the women of this group should be regarded as ‘high risk’ and counselling and the risk assessment should be done during ANC visits.

Trends in maternal body mass index in Northern Ireland: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

ObjectivesExplore (1) associations between maternal body mass index (BMI), demographic and clinical characteristics, (2) longitudinal trends in BMI, (3) geographical distributions in prevalence of maternal overweight and obesity.DesignRetrospective population-based study.SettingLinked, anonymised, routinely collected healthcare data and official statistics from Northern Ireland.ParticipantsAll pregnancies in Northern Ireland (2011–2017) with BMI measured at ≤16 weeks gestation.MethodsAnalysis of variance and χ2 tests were used to explore associations. Multiple linear regression was used to explore longitudinal trends and spatial visualisation illustrated geographical distribution. Main outcomes are prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2).Results152 961 singleton and 2362 multiple pregnancies were included. A high prevalence of maternal overweight and obesity in Northern Ireland is apparent (singleton: 52.4%; multiple: 48.3%) and is increasing. Obesity was positively associated with older age, larger numbers of previous pregnancies and unplanned pregnancy (p<0.001). BMI category was also positively associated with unemployment (35% in obese class III vs 22% in normal BMI category) (p<0.001). Higher BMI categories were associated with increased rate of comorbidities, including hypertension (normal BMI: 1.8% vs obese III: 12.4%), diabetes mellitus (normal BMI: 0.04% vs obese III: 1.29%) and mental ill-health (normal BMI: 5.0% vs obese III: 11.8%) (p<0.001). Prevalence of maternal obesity varied with deprivation (most deprived: 22.8% vs least deprived: 15.7%) (p<0.001). Low BMI was associated with age <20 years, nulliparity, unemployment and mental ill-health (p<0.001).ConclusionsThe prevalence of maternal BMI >25 kg/m2 is increasing over time in Northern Ireland. Women are entering pregnancy with additional comorbidities likely to impact their life course beyond pregnancy. This highlights the need for prioritisation of preconception and inter-pregnancy support for management of weight and chronic conditions.

Obesity is a risk factor for central precocious puberty: a case-control study

Background Obesity is an important underlying cause of central precocious puberty (CPP), but previous large studies are flawed by using just age and breast examination to diagnose CPP. We aimed to determine whether overweight and obesity in childhood increases hormonally diagnosed CPP. Methods Our retrospective, case-control study recruited 846 children diagnosed as having CPP and randomly sampled 1650 healthy control subjects in Xingtai Third Hospital in China between November 2018 and March 2021. Information was obtained from an electronic medical record and questionnaire investigated in the outpatient visit. Observations were made before the a priori hypothesis. Unconditional logistic regression for analysis was used to determine whether overweight and obesity status and duration of overweight/obesity were associated with CPP. Results Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with increased odds of CPP among girls, even after adjusting for birth weight, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 month, household income, maternal overweight, paternal overweight, and maternal menarche age (overweight: the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95%CI): 1.92 (1.16, 3.24), p = 0.02; obesity: aOR (95%CI): 1.78 (1.13, 3.48), p = 0.03). Furthermore, the effects of overweight and obesity were significant when ongoing for 1 to 2 years, 2 to 3 years, and greater than 3 years, but not at less than 1 year. For boys, association between obesity and increased odds of CPP was observed (aOR (95%CI): 1.68 (1.09, 3.75), p = 0.03). The effects of overweight and/or obesity were only significant when ongoing for greater than 2 years. Conclusions Prolonged overweight and obesity in early childhood may be risk factors for CPP, especially in girls. Weight loss might be an important approach for the prevention of precocious puberty in children.

Comparison of the key modifiable factors in the first 1000 days predicting subsequent overweight and obesity in pre-school children in Tehran: A case control study

Background & Objective: The identification of pediatric obesity predictors in the early stages of life is warranted, as it can influence the development of effective strategies to prevent metabolic disorders. Methods: In this case-control study, we assessed nine risk factors for pediatric obesity, namely a birth weight >4000 grams, an exclusive breastfeeding period <4 months, the introduction of solid food at <4 months, maternal overweight, or obesity before pregnancy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, the presence of gestational diabetes, paternal overweight and obesity, and paternal smoking. In order to identify the most relevant predictors of pediatric obesity, we employed a multiple logistic regression model with R2 cox snell by adjusting confounders. Results: In the randomly selected 509 preschool children from Tehran, children exposed to gestational diabetes had the maximum predicted probability of obesity [4.36 (1.94-9.80) %] among the analyzed risk factors. %]. The introduction of solid food at <4 months of age increased the risk of obesity by 2.98 [1.77-4.97%]. The odds ratio of childhood obesity were associated with maternal overweight and obesity [2.72(1.60-4.60) %], maternal smoking [2.21 (1.18-4.11) %], and excessive gestational weight gain [1.89 (1.23-2.91) %]. Paternal smoking and high birth weight increased the risk of pediatrics obesity >1.8 times [1.15-2.94], and > 1.5 times (1.015-2.43) respectively. There was no association between the paternal body mass index, the exclusive breastfeeding time, and the risk of pediatric obesity. Conclusion: Among early risk factors, probably gestational diabetes can be considered as the most important predictor for the risk of pediatric obesity.

Association between food intake and obesity in pregnant women living with and without HIV in Cape Town, South Africa: a prospective cohort study

Background Although global nutrition/dietary transition resulting from industrialisation and urbanisation has been identified as a major contributor to widespread trends of obesity, there is limited data in pregnant women, including those living with HIV in South Africa. We examined food-based dietary intake in pregnant women with and without HIV at first antenatal care (ANC) visit, and associations with maternal overweight/obesity and gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods In an urban South African community, consecutive women living with (n = 479) and without (n = 510) HIV were enrolled and prospectively followed to delivery. Interviewer-administered non-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake (starch, protein, dairy, fruits, vegetables, legumes, oils/fats) at enrolment. Associations with maternal body mass index (BMI) and GWG were examined using logistic regression models. Results Among women (median age 29 years, IQR 25–34), the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) at first ANC was 43% and that of excessive GWG (per IOM guidelines) was 37% overall; HIV prevalence was 48%. In women without HIV, consumption of potato (any preparation) (aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.02–3.84) and pumpkin/butternut (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.29–3.49) for 1–3 days a week increased the odds of overweight/obesity compared to not consuming any; milk in tea/coffee (aOR 6.04, 95% CI 1.37–26.50) increased the odds of excessive GWG. Consumption of eggs (any) (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.86) for 1–3 days a week reduced the odds of overweight/obesity while peanut and nuts consumption for 4–7 days a week reduced the odds (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14–0.80) of excessive GWG. In women with HIV, consumption of milk/yoghurt/maas to drink/on cereals (aOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18–0.68), tomato (raw/cooked) (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.30–0.84), green beans (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20–0.86), mixed vegetables (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29–0.84) and legumes e.g. baked beans, lentils (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28–0.86) for 4–7 days a week reduced the odds of overweight/obesity; tomato (raw/cooked) (aOR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24–0.96) and mixed vegetables (aOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.18–0.78) also reduced the odds of excessive GWG. Conclusions Diet modification may promote healthy weight in pregnant women living with and without HIV.

Factors affecting the growth of children till the age of three years with overweight whose mothers have diabetes mellitus: A population-based cohort study

Background The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy and childhood obesity is increasing worldwide. Factors affecting the growth of children with overweight whose mothers had DM are complicated and inconclusive. Few longitudinal studies have focused on the growth of infants with macrosomia born to mothers with DM and the factors influencing their overweight. This study explored risk factors for childhood overweight/obesity (OWOB) among children of mothers with DM. Perinatal, maternal socio-demographic, infant care, and maternal body weight characteristics as well as child growth until age 3 years were analyzed using a longitudinal design. Methods In total, 24,200 pairs of mothers and their children from the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study were included. Combined Taiwan Children Growth Curve report classifications were analyzed for infant growth at birth and at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months old (m/o). A multiple logistic regression analysis with different model settings was used to assess factors affecting the growth of high birth weight children of mothers with diabetic mellitus (HODM). Results Children in the HODM group had a higher average body weight than did those in the non-DM group at different age stages. Relative to the non-DM group, weight gain in the HODM group was slower before 18 m/o but faster from 18 to 36 m/o, particularly after 24 m/o. Maternal DM was a major risk factor for childhood OWOB (odds ratio [OR]: 3.25–3.95). After adjustment for related confounders, the OR was 2.19–3.17. Maternal overweight or obesity and higher gestational weight gain were greater risk factors for childhood OWOB at 3 years old after adjusted maternal DM and other selected confounders (OR: 1.45 and 1.23, respectively). Breastfeeding until 6 m/o was a protective factor against childhood OWOB (OR: 0.95). The HODM and non-DM groups did not differ significantly in perinatal, maternal socio-demographic, or infant care characteristics. Conclusions Maternal DM is a major factor of childhood OWOB. Maternal body weight before and after pregnancy affects childhood OWOB, and this effect increases with the child’s age.

Associations of novel 24-h accelerometer-derived metrics with adiposity in children and adolescents

Background Further research is required to explore the associations between 24-h movement behaviours and health outcomes in the paediatric population. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the associations between novel data-driven 24-h activity metrics and adiposity among children and adolescents. Methods The sample included 382 children (8–13 years) and 338 adolescents (14–18 years). The average acceleration (AvAcc) of activity, intensity gradient (IG), and metrics representing the initial acceleration for the most active time periods of the 24-h cycle were calculated from raw acceleration data. Adiposity measures included body mass index z-score, fat mass percentage (FM%), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression adjusted for wear time, sex, maternal education level, and maternal overweight and obesity. Results Children demonstrated higher values in all 24-h activity metrics than did adolescents (p < 0.001 for all). For children, the initial acceleration for the most active 2, 5, 15, and 30 min of the 24-h cycle were negatively associated with FM% (p ≤ 0.043 for all) and VAT (p <0.001 for all), respectively. For adolescents, the IG was negatively associated with FM% (p = 0.002) and VAT (p = 0.007). Moreover, initial acceleration for the most active 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min were associated with FM% (p ≤ 0.007 for all) and with VAT (p ≤ 0.023 for all). Conclusions The intensity distribution of activity and initial acceleration for the most active 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min within the 24-h cycle are beneficial for the prevention of excess adiposity in the paediatric population.

Maternal overweight and its relation with child’s anthropometric indices

Objectives: to investigate the relation between maternal overweight and child’s anthropometric indices, identifying the interaction with the child's age. Methods: a cross-sectional study with mothers and their children under 2 years old. The mothers’ body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio was calculated. In children, we calculated height/age (H/A), body mass index/age (BMI/A), weight/height (W/H) and weight/age (W/A) indices. The means of the anthropometric indices of children with excess weight and maternal cardiometabolic risk were compared. Mothers and children’s anthropometric indices were correlated. Linear regression models were proposed. We investigated the child's age interaction with anthropometric variables of the dyad. Results: the means of BMI/A and W/H were higher in children of overweight mothers and the means of BMI/A, W/H and W/A were higher when mothers had increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases. There was an association of maternal weight and height with the W/A index; maternal BMI with W/H; maternal height with H/A; maternal weight, BMI and waist circumference with BMI/A. The children's age did not interact with the assessed parameters. Conclusion: children under 2 years of age, whose mothers are overweight, tend to show changes in weight, regardless of age.