Excessive Weight gain during pregnancy increases autism risk in children: Study

Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Published On 2020-12-17 10:15 GMT | Update On 2020-12-17 10:16 GMT

USA: Increased weight gain (more than recommended levels) during pregnancy elevates autism risk in offspring, a recent study in the journal Obesity has found.

Ka He, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA, and colleagues aimed to quantitatively examine the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring.

The researchers searched the online databases for studies of excessive or inadequate GWG as compared to the recommended GWG in relation to ASD risk in offfspring. Measures of the association from primary studies were pooled using a meta‐analytic approach and expressed as weighted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs.

In total, nine studies were identified including 323,253 participants with 4,135 cases of ASD from five cohort studies and 1,462 cases and 3,265 controls from four case‐control studies.

Key findings of the study include:

Evidence from cohort studies indicates that both excessive and inadequate GWG was significantly associated with a higher risk for ASD in offspring.
The pooled OR of ASD was 1.10 for excessive GWG and 1.13 for inadequate GWG using recommended GWG as the reference.
Evidence from case‐control studies suggests that excessive GWG (1.38) but not inadequate GWG (0.87) was significantly associated with a higher risk for ASD.

""Because autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to affect approximately 1% of people globally, identifying modifiable risk factors for ASD is of great public health significance," wrote the authors.

"Our findings from the meta-analysis have supported that gaining weight outside the recommended GWG is associated with a higher risk for ASD in offspring," they concluded.

"Although the underlying mechanisms by which gestational weight gain affects neurodevelopment of offspring are still unclear, it has been suggested that excessive gestational weight gain may induce disturbed blood leptin signaling in offspring, which may consequently lead to adverse neurobiological conditions," the researchers wrote. "[Inadequate gestational weight gain] may be considered as a marker of suboptimal nutritional status of the fetus, and nutrient deficiencies have been linked to poor neurodevelopment and ASD risk in children."

The study, "Association Between Gestational Weight Gain and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Offspring: A Meta‐Analysis," is published in the journal Obesity.

DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/oby.22966

Article Source : journal Obesity

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Medha Baranwal

Comments Policy

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Excessive Weight gain during pregnancy increases autism risk in children: Study

Similar News

Involuntary Leaks: Study Investigating Stress Urinary Incontinence During Pregnancy

'Inflammatory' diet during pregnancy may raise child's diabetes type 1 risk: Research

HRT Linked to Lower Periodontitis Prevalence, But Not Severity: Study

Propofol Meets Esketamine: A Game-Changer for GA in Acute Cesarean Sections, states study

Women less likely than men to receive MS drugs, reveals research

Planned C-sections increase the risk of certain childhood cancers: Study

Women with PCOS more prone to Unhealthy Eating Behaviors at midlife: Study

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Safe and Feasible in Pregnancy: Study