Predicting Preschooler Obesity at Birth: The Role of Maternal Obesity in Early Pregnancy

Knowing risk factors at birth for the development of childhood obesity could help to identify children who are in need of early obesity prevention efforts. The objective of this study was to determine whether children whose mothers were obese in early pregnancy were more likely to be obese at 2 to 4 years of age.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 8494 low-income children who were enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Ohio and were followed from the first trimester of gestation until 24 to 59 months of age. Measured height and weight data from WIC were linked to birth certificate records for children who were born in the years 1992-1996. Obesity among 2- to 4-year-olds was defined as a body mass index (BMI) > or =95th percentile for age and gender. Mothers were classified as obese (BMI > or =30 kg/m2) or nonobese (BMI