title: Maternal obesity during pregnancy and cardiovascular development and disease in the offspring.
abstract: Maternal obesity during pregnancy is an important public health problem in Western countries. Currently, obesity prevalence rates in pregnant women are estimated to be as high as 30%. In addition, approximately 40% of women gain an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy in Western countries. An accumulating body of evidence suggests a long-term impact of maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy on adiposity, cardiovascular and metabolic related health outcomes in the offspring in fetal life, childhood and adulthood. In this review, we discuss results from recent studies, potential underlying mechanisms and challenges for future epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group (Na 29-15), Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. r.gaillard@erasmusmc.nl.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. r.gaillard@erasmusmc.nl.|Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. r.gaillard@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaillard
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: Adult cardiovascular risk factors; Adverse pregnancy outcomes; Childhood cardiovascular risk factors; Childhood obesity; Excessive gestational weight gain; Fetal death; Maternal obesity