title: Anthropometric profile of children and adolescents from diabetic pregnancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure in utero to maternal diabetes is a risk factor for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It may contribute to the current epidemic outbreak of these diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the impact of the exposure to maternal diabetes on the anthropometric profile of the offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department "A" of the National Institute of Nutrition. It involved 120 children and adolescents who were from 5 to 19 years old and recruited between October 2008 and November 2009. They were divided into two groups : • A first group of 80 children from diabetic mothers ; • A second control group of 40 children from non-diabetic pregnancies. They have had a clinical examination. Data about diabetic pregnancies were collected from the mothers'medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  body mass index and waist circumference of children from both groups were comparable. In both groups, two thirds of children had a normal weight (62.5 % in the first group versus 65% in the control group). Obesity is more common in children exposed to maternal hyperglycemia (31.3% versus 25% in the control group), but the difference is not statistically significant. The majority of obese children (88%) are those from diabetic mothers with type 2 or gestational diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  our results underline the need for early screening for gestational diabetes and an optimal management of diabetic pregnancy to reduce the metabolic risk in the offspring.
authors.forename: Kamilia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ounaissa
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Berriche
authors.forename: Yosra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Htira
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben Othmen
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mahjoub
authors.forename: Chiraz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amrouche