Children born to mothers with obesity have an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study.
- Children born to overweight mothers before and during pregnancy have an increased risk of neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders.
- Maternal obesity increases the risk of ADHD in children by 32%.
- It also doubles the risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder.
“Maternal obesity has long been associated with a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and it is also linked to macrosomia (a baby weighing more than 4 kg at birth, Editor’s note) or high birth weight”explains Dr Bereket Duko of the University of South Australia in a press release from his establishment.
Its work with Curtin University, Monash University and SAHMRI shows that these are not the only complications involved. They showed that children whose mothers were overweight before conception or during pregnancy had an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD).
Maternal obesity: increased risk of behavioral disorders in children
To assess the impact of maternal obesity or overweight on babies, Australian researchers studied data from more than 3.6 million mother-child pairs from 42 epidemiological studies.
The analyses, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, show that children whose mothers were obese before and during pregnancy had a 32% increased risk of suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder when they grew up.
Researchers also found that maternal obesity doubles the risk of developing ASD in children (by 2.23 times). These babies were also 16% more likely to have behavioral problems later. A 30% increase in the risk of peer relationship problems has also been highlighted.
Neurodevelopmental disorders: attention must be paid to maternal health
“Given increasing global obesity rates among women of childbearing age and the increasing number of children identified with neurodivergences, it is important that we know the potential long-term consequences of maternal adiposity on child’s mental healthbelieves Dr Duko.
For the scientist, the results of his study highlight the need to offer interventions to manage maternal weight before and during pregnancy. “Public health efforts to improve maternal health could help mitigate some of the risks of neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders in children.”
However, he acknowledges that further research needs to be conducted to confirm his findings and explore the biological mechanisms underlying these associations.
