Summary: Girls born to obese mothers may be at higher risk of becoming obese themselves, a new study shows.
Source: The Endocrine Society
Obese women may share risk for the disease with their daughters, but not their sons, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Obesity is a common, serious and costly disease that affects nearly half of adults and 20 percent of children in the United States. It costs an estimated $173 billion in medical care costs. People who are obese are at a higher risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, and many other conditions.
“These findings show that girls born to mothers who are obese or have a high amount of body fat may be at a higher risk of developing excess fat themselves,” said by Rebecca J. Moon, BM, Ph.D., MRCPCH, of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Center, University of Southampton in Southampton, UK
“Further study is needed to understand why this occurs, but our findings suggest that strategies to address weight and body composition should begin early in life, especially for girls born in obese and overweight mother.”
Researchers measured body fat and muscle mass in 240 children (9 years of age or younger) and their parents in early childhood. They used this data to determine whether body mass index (BMI)—a screening tool for overweight and obesity—and the amount of body fat and muscle in children were related to their parents.
They found that girls had similar BMI and fat mass to their mothers, suggesting that girls born to mothers who are obese or have high fat mass are at high risk. who are also obese or overweight. The researchers did not find the same relationship between boys and their mothers or either girls or boys and their fathers.
The other authors of this study are Stefania D’Angelo of the University of Southampton; Christopher R. Holroyd of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in Southampton, UK; Sarah R. Crozier of the University of Southampton and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Wessex in Southampton, UK; Justin H. Davies of the University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; and Keith M. Godfrey, Cyrus Cooper and Nicholas C. Harvey of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, the University of Southampton, the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in Southampton, UK
Funding: The study received funding from the Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Seventh Framework Programme, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, and the National Institute on Aging.
About this obesity and genetics research news
Author: Colleen Williams
Source: The Endocrine Society
Contact: Colleen Williams – The Endocrine Society
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Open access.
“Parent-Child Body Composition Associations: Findings From the Southampton Women’s Survey Prospective Cohort Study” by Rebecca J. Moon et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Abstract
Parent-Child Body Composition Associations: Findings From the Southampton Women’s Survey Prospective Cohort Study
Context
Children born to overweight or obese parents have a high risk of adult obesity, but it is unclear whether transgenerational associations related to unfavorable body composition varies by parent.
Purpose
To examine variation in mother-child and father-child associations with body composition in early childhood.
Method
A total of 240 mother-father-child trios from a prospective UK population-based pre-birth cohort (Southampton Women’s Survey) were included for whole-body anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry assessment. -less-head body composition in the offspring at 3 different ages (4, 6-7, and 8-9 years) and in the mother and father at the 8- to 9-year offspring visit. Associations were assessed using linear regression adjusting for the other parent.
Results
Positive associations between mother-daughter body mass index (BMI) and fat mass were observed at ages 6 to 7 (BMI: β = .29 SD/SD, 95% CI = .10, . 48; fat mass β = .27 SD /SD, 95% CI = .05, .48) and 8 to 9 years (BMI: β = .33 SD/SD, 95% CI = .13, .54; fat mass β = .31 SD/SD, 95 % CI = .12, .49), with similar associations at age 4 years but binding at the 95% CI. Mother-child, father-child, and father-daughter associations for BMI and fat mass were weaker at each age studied.
Conclusion
A strong association between the fat mass of mothers and their daughters but not their sons was observed. In contrast, father-offspring body composition associations are unclear. The dimorphic parent-offspring effect indicates that particular attention should be paid to the early prevention of unfavorable body composition in girls born to mothers with excessive adiposity.
