Overweight in childhood and early adulthood is associated with parental Body Mass Index and perinatal risk factors

Background: To investigate the associations of pregnancy and pre-pregnancy parental characteristics on child’s weight and progression at the early adulthood. Material and Methods: Α random sample of 5,125 dyads children and their mothers was assessed. Mothers were asked to provide information contained in their medical booklets and pregnancy ultrasound records. With the use of a standardized questionnaire, telephone interviews were carried out for the collection of parental factors and offspring’s BMI. Results: Mother’s overweight (including obesity) before pregnancy was found to significantly increase the likelihoods of offspring’s overweight (including obesity) at the age of 8-9 years and 15-25 years (odds ratio (OR) 1.97; 95% confidence interval %CI: 1.65, 2.30 and OR 2.0; 95%CI: 1.67, 2.36, respectively). Paternal BMI (OR 1.41; 95% CI: 1.20–1.62), maternal smoking at pregnancy (OR 1.22; 95% CI: 1.14–1.30), gestational weight gain (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.24–1.66), and gestational hypertension OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.14–1.49) were also found to significantly increase the odds of children’s obesity. Conclusion: Among prenatal factors considered, mother’s pre-pregnancy and father’s BMI, GWG, not breastfeeding, smoking in pregnancy and gestational hypertension increased the odds of offspring’s overweight/obesity in childhood and early adulthood, even after adjustment for several covariates.