title: Cesarean delivery and the long-term risk of offspring obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between the mode of delivery and the risk of offspring obesity by age 21 years using a large community-based birth cohort study in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We followed-up a subsample of 2,625 offspring for whom we had measured physical assessments, including height and weight at 21 years and hospital-recorded mode of delivery, in the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, between 1981 and 1983. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured at 21 years. Multivariable regression analysis was used to examine the independent associations of mode of delivery with offspring BMI and waist circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the cohort, 12.1% were born by cesarean delivery. Maternal and birth factors independently associated with the mode of delivery were age, overweight and obesity status, smoking status during pregnancy, hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, and neonatal low birth weight. By 21 years, 21.5% of offspring were overweight and 12.4% were obese. Offspring overweight and obesity status, as well as BMI and waist circumference, were not associated with the mode of delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study do not support the idea that cesarean delivery has increased the risk of long-term offspring obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  : III.
authors.affiliation: Schools of Population Health and Medicine, University of Queensland, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Mater Children's Hospital, Mater Health Services, and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Abdullah A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mamun
authors.forename: Ratneswary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutharsan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jake
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Najman
authors.forename: Harold David
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Callaway
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult