Maternal Obesity and Offspring Fat Mass
Author Information
Author(s): Debbie A Lawlor, Timpson Nicholas J, Harbord Roger M, Leary Sam, Ness Andy, McCarthy Mark I, Frayling Timothy M, Hattersley Andrew T, Smith George Davey
Primary Institution: Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol
Hypothesis
Does greater maternal obesity during pregnancy lead to increased fat mass in offspring?
Conclusion
The study found that greater maternal BMI during offspring development does not have a significant effect on offspring fat mass at ages 9-11.
Supporting Evidence
- Maternal BMI was more strongly associated with offspring fat mass than paternal BMI.
- The effect size of maternal BMI on offspring fat mass was larger than that of paternal BMI.
- Using FTO genotype as an instrumental variable did not show a significant association with offspring fat mass.
Takeaway
If a mom is heavier before having a baby, it doesn't mean her child will be heavier too when they grow up.
Methodology
The study compared maternal and paternal BMI with offspring fat mass using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and genetic analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential non-paternity could affect the associations observed.
Limitations
The study only assessed offspring fat mass at ages 9-11, and the effects may change as they grow older.
Participant Demographics
Participants were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, primarily of European descent.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.17
Confidence Interval
0.22 to 0.26 for maternal BMI; 0.11 to 0.15 for paternal BMI
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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