Predictors of excess body weight concurrently affecting mother-child pairs: a 6 year follow-up

Background We examined the predictors of excess body weight (EBW) concurrently affecting mother-child pairs after delivery during 6 years of follow-up. Methods Prospective cohort study conducted on 435 mother-child pairs. Data were collected at four time points: at birth in the maternity hospital; 1-2 years old, 4-5 years old and 6 years old at the participant's home. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of maternal-child EBW: mothers with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and large-for-gestational age (LGA) baby (>90th percentile) at baseline and mothers with body mass index (BMI) >= 25 kg/m(2) and a child > 85th percentile. Results The adjusted analysis showed that the risk of mother-child pairs concurrently having EBW increased with increasing pre-pregnancy BMI (RR = 2.4 and RR = 3.3 for pre-pregnancy BMI 25-30 and >= 30 kg/m(2), respectively, P < 0.01). Excessive GWG and LGA infants were also significant predictors of EBW concurrently affecting mother-child pairs (RR = 2.2 and RR = 2.3, respectively, P < 0.01). Conclusion Excessive pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive GWG and LGA status were strong predictors of EBW concurrently affecting mother-child pairs over 6 years of follow-up. Public policies must be established primarily before/during pregnancy to avoid an EBW cycle in the same family over the years.

Automated summary

This study examined the predictors of excess body weight in mother-child pairs after delivery, and found that excessive pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive gestational weight gain, and large-for-gestational age infants were strong predictors of concurrent excess body weight in mother-child pairs. This highlights the importance of implementing targeted public policies before and during pregnancy to prevent excess body weight in both mother and child.