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Review
. 2024 Dec;50(12):2178-2182.
doi: 10.1111/jog.16114. Epub 2024 Oct 9.

Origins of obesity in the womb: Fetal adiposity and its determinants

Satoru Ikenoue  1 , Junko Tamai  1 , Keisuke Akita  1 , Toshimitsu Otani  1 , Yoshifumi Kasuga  1 , Mamoru Tanaka  1
Affiliations
Review

Origins of obesity in the womb: Fetal adiposity and its determinants

Satoru Ikenoue et al. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Birth weight is an important predictor of perinatal complications and long-term health outcomes of offspring. Fetal programming influenced by maternal obesity, overnutrition, and hyperglycemia has been proposed as the fuel overload hypothesis. Recent investigations related with fetal body composition have revealed that neonatal adiposity can be predicted by fetal fat mass, and that maternal insulin resistance and serum leptin level are indicators of fetal adiposity. Based on the current evidence, the origins of obesity can partly be traced back into the fetal life. Further clarification of the determinants of fetal fat mass may lead to the clinical interventions and treatment strategies for fetal growth and development. This effort potentially leads to the elucidation of pathological conditions related with long-term health outcomes and the primary prevention of childhood obesity and early onset metabolic syndrome.

Keywords: DOHaD; fetal adiposity; fetal body composition; fetal ultrasonography; fractional limb volume; liver blood flow.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare. Dr. Yoshifumi Kasuga is an Editorial Board member of JOG Journal and a co‐author of this article. To minimize bias, Dr. Kasuga was excluded from all editorial decision‐making related to the acceptance of this article for publication.

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