Pharmacologic sex hormones in pregnancy in relation to offspring obesity.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between in utero exposure to either diethylstilbestrol (DES) or an oral contraceptive in pregnancy and offspring obesity.


METHODS
Using data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959-1974), a multicenter prospective study of pregnant women and their offspring, we examined overweight or obesity among 34,419 children with height and weight data at age 7 years. Generalized linear models to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for overweight or obesity (≥85th percentile) or obesity (≥95th percentile) in the offspring according to exposure during different months of pregnancy were used.


RESULTS
Oral contraceptive use during pregnancy was positively associated with offspring overweight or obesity and obesity. The magnitude of association was strongest in the first 2 months of pregnancy for obesity (aOR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.7). DES use was also associated with offspring overweight or obesity and obesity, with the association being strongest for exposure beginning between months 3 and 5 (e.g., for exposure beginning in months 3-4, the aOR for obesity was 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacologic sex hormone use in pregnancy may be associated with childhood obesity. Whether contemporary, lower dose oral contraceptive formulations are similarly associated with increased risk of childhood obesity is unclear.
Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
Elizabeth T
ET
Jensen
Matthew P
MP
Longnecker
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol
diethylstilbestrol; ethinyl estradiol or mestranol; fetal origins of disease; obesogens