Maternal weight gain in pregnancy and risk of obesity among offspring: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the evidence from prospective and retrospective cohort studies on the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and offspring's body weight.


METHODS
Electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Academic Search Premiere were searched from inception through March 18, 2013. Included studies (n = 23) were English articles that examined the independent associations of GWG with body mass index (BMI) and/or overweight status in the offspring aged 2 to 18.9 years. Two authors independently extracted the data and assessed methodological quality of the included studies.


RESULTS
Evidence from cohort studies supports that total GWG and exceeding the Institute of Medicine maternal weight gain recommendation were associated with higher BMI z-score and elevated risk of overweight or obesity in offspring. The evidence of high rate of GWG during early- and mid-pregnancy is suggestive. Additionally, the evidence on inadequate GWG and net GWG in relation to body weight outcomes in offspring is insufficient to draw conclusions.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that GWG is a potential risk factor for childhood obesity. However, findings should be interpreted with caution due to measurement issues of GWG and potential confounding effects of shared familial characteristics (i.e., genetics and maternal and child's lifestyle factors).
Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Erica Y
EY
Lau
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Room 459 Discovery Building, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Junxiu
J
Liu
Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
Edward
0000-0002-9339-6918
E
Archer
Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Samantha M
SM
McDonald
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Room 459 Discovery Building, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Jihong
0000-0001-8685-3036
J
Liu
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009035:Mothers; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain