title: Prenatal exposure to maternal very severe obesity is associated with impaired neurodevelopment and executive functioning in children.
abstract: BackgroundPrenatal maternal obesity has been associated with an increased risk of neurocognitive problems in childhood, but there are fewer studies on executive functioning.MethodsTests and questionnaires to assess neurodevelopment, executive functioning, and the ability to delay gratification were conducted in 113 children (mean (SD)=4.24 (0.63) years of age) born to mothers with very severe obesity (SO, body mass index (BMI)⩾40 kg/m2, n=51) or to lean mothers (BMI⩽25 kg/m2, n=62).ResultsPrenatal maternal SO predicted poorer neurodevelopment (unstandardized regression coefficient (B)=-0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.82; -0.02)), worse problem-solving (odd ratio (OR)=0.60, 95% CI (1.13; 0.07)), and fine motor skills (OR=4.91, 95% CI (1.27; 19.04)), poorer executive functioning in areas of attention, inhibitory control, and working memory (standardized B=3.75, 95% CI (1.01; 13.93)) but not in self-gratification delay. The effects were independent of maternal concurrent psychological well-being and child's BMI, but not independent of maternal education.ConclusionFuture studies should investigate whether perinatal management of maternal obesity could prevent adverse outcomes in child neurodevelopment.
authors.affiliation: University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.|Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Theresia H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mina
authors.affiliation: University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.|Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.affiliation: University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.|MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Denison
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Räikkönen
authors.affiliation: Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.|MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.|Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001519:Behavior; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009048:Motor Skills; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011340:Problem Solving; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires