Higher infant body fat with excessive gestational weight gain in overweight women

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 205; no. 3; pp. 211.e1 - 211.e7
• Main Authors: Hull, Holly R., Thornton, John C., Ji, Ying, Paley, Charles, Rosenn, Barak, Mathews, Premila, Navder, Khursheed, Yu, Amy, Dorsey, Karen, Gallagher, Dympna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.09.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adiposity - physiology; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Female; gestational weight gain; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Institute of Medicine recommendations; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; newborn body composition; Obesity; Obesity - physiopathology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Overweight - physiopathology; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Weight Gain - physiology; Institute of Medicine recommendations; newborn body composition; gestational weight gain; pregnancy; Human; Pregnancy; Gynecology; Body weight; Fat; Female; Infant; Corporal biometry; Woman; Obstetrics; Weight gain; Overweight
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.04.004

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is positively associated with birthweight and maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is directly related to infant fat mass (FM). This study examined whether differences exist in infant body composition based on 2009 GWG recommendations. Body composition was measured in 306 infants, and GWG was categorized as appropriate or excessive. Analysis of covariance was used to investigate the effects of GWG and prepregnancy BMI and their interaction on infant body composition. Within the appropriate group, infants from obese mothers had greater percent fat (%fat) and FM than offspring from normal and overweight mothers. Within the excessive group, infants from normal mothers had less %fat and FM than infants from overweight and obese mothers. A difference was found for %fat and FM within the overweight group between GWG categories. Excessive GWG is associated with greater infant body fat and the effect is greatest in overweight women.