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Maternal obesity is projected to reach nearly one in four mothers worldwide by 2030. This is of particular concern because obesity is characterised by a state of chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of a disordered immune system response, changes in gene expression, and unfavourable changes to the gut microbiome, all of which can influence the long-term health of a developing fetus.
Previous studies on whether maternal BMI is associated with childhood infection have had varied results. It has been unclear whether various potentially modifiable factors, such as breastfeeding, method of delivery, and pregnancy weight gain, might influence outcomes.
The researchers drew on participants in the Born in Bradford study, which has been looking at the potential impact of social, environmental, and genetic factors on short- and long-term mother and child health outcomes. They looked at data from 9,037 women who had given birth to a living child at the Bradford Royal Infirmary between March 2007 and December 2010, and for whom information on their height and weight was available, were included in the analysis. The health of the 9,540 children, specifically the number of admissions to hospital for an infection was tracked until the age of 15, they withdrew from the study, or died, whichever came first by October 2022.
They also took into account other factors that may explain the findings, including assessing potentially modifiable factors: breastfeeding for six or more weeks after birth; caesarean (C) section delivery; preterm birth under 37 weeks; excessive weekly average weight gain during pregnancy; excessive total weight gain while pregnant; and child obesity. The women were weighed at the first antenatal (booking) appointment, again between 26-28 weeks of pregnancy, and during a routine third trimester appointment.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Population Health website.