Predictors of excess body weight concurrently affecting mother–child pairs: a 6 year follow-up

Abstract

Abstract Background We examined the predictors of excess body weight (EBW) concurrently affecting mother–child pairs after delivery during 6 years of follow-up. Methods Prospective cohort study conducted on 435 mother–child pairs. Data were collected at four time points: at birth in the maternity hospital; 1–2 years old, 4–5 years old and 6 years old at the participant’s home. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of maternal–child EBW: mothers with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and large-for-gestational age (LGA) baby (>90th percentile) at baseline and mothers with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 and a child > 85th percentile. Results The adjusted analysis showed that the risk of mother–child pairs concurrently having EBW increased with increasing pre-pregnancy BMI (RR = 2.4 and RR = 3.3 for pre-pregnancy BMI 25–30 and ≥30 kg/m2, respectively, P < 0.01). Excessive GWG and LGA infants were also significant predictors of EBW concurrently affecting mother–child pairs (RR = 2.2 and RR = 2.3, respectively, P < 0.01). Conclusion Excessive pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive GWG and LGA status were strong predictors of EBW concurrently affecting mother–child pairs over 6 years of follow-up. Public policies must be established primarily before/during pregnancy to avoid an EBW cycle in the same family over the years.