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Review
. 2023 Feb;18(2):e12981.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12981. Epub 2022 Sep 14.

Prenatal interventions and the development of childhood obesity

Sara Fortin-Miller  1 , Brendel Plonka  1 , Heather Gibbs  1 , Danielle Christifano  1 , Holly Hull  1
Affiliations
Review

Prenatal interventions and the development of childhood obesity

Sara Fortin-Miller et al. Pediatr Obes. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Excess maternal adiposity during pregnancy has lasting effects on child outcomes including increased risk of overweight/obesity, which drives disease development. Prenatal interventions are a potential avenue to curb childhood obesity rates, but little is known on their long-term influence on offspring adiposity.

Objective: Review the evidence for lasting effects of prenatal interventions on child adiposity.

Methods: Three databases were searched for follow-up studies of completed prenatal RCTs that involved a diet, exercise, or combined (diet and exercise) intervention, and assessed offspring adiposity-related outcomes beyond birth.

Results: A total of 18 follow-up studies describing 4277 offspring were included. Anthropometrics were collected in all studies while body composition was measured in 15 of the studies. Diet or exercise interventions did not have a consistent significant effect on child adiposity. Three combined interventions resulted in lower levels of child adiposity at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Conclusions: No strong association was found between prenatal diet, exercise, or combined interventions and child adiposity. Data are limited due to 63.6% overall retention rate for the follow-up studies and heterogeneity of intervention approach and child adiposity measures. Findings suggest combined interventions initiated early in pregnancy may decrease offspring adiposity in the first year of life.

Keywords: adiposity; child; intervention; obesity; pregnancy.

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References

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