title: Association between gestational weight gain and risk of obesity in preadolescence: a longitudinal study (1997-2007) of 5125 children in Greece.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and birth weight, as well as the body mass index (BMI) status, of children at the ages of 2 and 8 years.
  
  
  
  Population-based data were obtained from a database of all 7-9-year-old Greek children who attended primary school during 1997-2007. The study sample consisted of 5125 children matched with their mothers, randomly selected according to region and place of residence, and equally distributed (approximately 500 per year) throughout the study period (1997-2007). A standardised questionnaire was applied; telephone interviews were carried out to collect maternal age, BMI status at the beginning and the end of pregnancy and GWG, birth weight of offspring and BMI status at the ages of 2 and 8 years, as well as several other pregnancy characteristics (e.g. pregnancy duration, gestational medical problems, maternal smoking and alcohol consumption habits, and lactation of offspring after pregnancy).
  
  
  
  Gestational weight gain was positively associated with the weight status of offspring at all three life stages studied: newborn (birth weight), infant (BMI) and child (BMI) [b = 0.008 (0.001), b = 0.053 (0.009) and b = 0.034 (0.007), respectively, all P < 0.001], after adjusting for maternal age at pregnancy (significant inverse predictor only at age 2 years). The same applied to excessive GWG, as defined by the Institute of Medicine guidelines.
  
  
  
  Excessive GWG was associated with a higher risk of greater infant size at birth and a higher BMI status at the ages of 2 and 8 years. Healthcare providers should encourage women to limit their GWG to the range indicated by the current guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mourtakos
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.|Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Tambalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonogeorgos
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Alexi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Georgoulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saade
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.|Department of Internal Medicine, Sealy Center on Aging, Institute for Translational Sciences and Shriners Hospital for Children, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sidossis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: IOM category; child; childhood obesity; infant; maternal weight gain; newborn; preadolescence; pregnancy