Children born to mothers with obesity both before and during pregnancy have an increased risk of neuropsychiatric and behavioral conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research from the University of South Australia. The paper is published in the journal Psychiatry Research . Conducted in partnership with Curtin University, Monash University, SAHMRI and a team of national institutions, the systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 3.
6 million mother-child pairs across 42 epidemiological studies found that obesity during pregnancy: The study also found that maternal pre-conception obesity or overweight was linked with an increased risk of ADHD, ASD, conduct disorder and psychotic disorder as well as a 30% increased risk in both externalizing symptoms, and peer relationship problems. Lead researcher UniSA's Dr. Bereket Duko says the study provides new insights into the long-term impact of maternal body weight on child mental health.
"Maternal obesity has long been associated with a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth , low birthweight, stillbirth, and it is also linked with macrosomia, or high birthweight," Dr. Duko says. "In this study, we examined maternal overweight and obesity before and during pregnancy, finding that both are significantly linked with psychiatric and behavioral problems in children later in life, specifically ASD, ADHD and peer relationship .