title: Maternal and infant factors associated with neonatal adiposity: results from the Tasmanian Infant Health Survey (TIHS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the maternal and neonatal factors associated with offspring adiposity and the role of birth and placental weight as potential mediators in such associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Tasmanian Infant Health Survey was a prospective cohort study conducted between 1988 and 1995 in Australia to investigate the cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This large infant cohort provides measurement of skinfolds on 7945 mothers and their offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included singletons born ≥37 weeks gestation who were at high risk of sudden infant death syndrome identified through a composite score that included birth weight, maternal age, neonatal gender, season of birth, duration of second-stage labor and intention to breastfeed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonatal adiposity was assessed from skinfold measurements of the subscapular (SSF) and triceps folds (TSF) taken at birth. Maternal early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Neonatal data were extracted from birth records. Data relating to other environmental exposures were obtained from questionnaires administered when neonates were ∼4-days old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariable models, higher maternal adiposity, increasing maternal age, gestation age, delivery by Caesarian section and female gender were associated with larger SSF independent of placental and birth weight (P<0.001). Maternal age and delivery by Caesarian section were significantly associated with larger TSF, whereas gestational age and male gender were associated with thinner TSF independent of placental and birth weight. Higher early-pregnancy BMI, maternal weight gain, maternal age, parity and gestational age were significantly associated with larger placental and birth weight. Smoking during pregnancy was associated with smaller birth weight but not with placental weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to birth weight, maternal adiposity and placental weight were important additional factors associated with neonatal adiposity.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. gabriella.tikellis@mcri.edu.au
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tikellis
authors.forename: A-L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ponsonby
authors.forename: J C K
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cochrane
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwyer
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013648:Tasmania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult