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Maternal undernutrition and offspring´s Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) at 23 years. The 1982 Pelotas birth cohort study

 

Abstract

 

Obesity has been considered a public health problem in worldwide. Evidence from

epidemiologic studies has shown that early undernutrition may be a determinant of obesity

later in life. Longitudinal studies are scarce in low-income and middle countries setting. In

 Pelotas, southern Brazil, a birth cohort has been followed since 1982. In 2004-05, 4,297

members of this cohort were interviewed. The aim of this study is to describe the association between maternal undernutrition and offspring BMI and WC at 23 y from the 1982 Pelotas  birth cohort. Independent variables were maternal pre-gestational BMI and maternal height, obtained in 1982. Offspring BMI and WC at 23 y were the outcomes. The analysis was stratified by sex and restricted to those cohort members belonged to lower income group. Multivariable linear regression was adjusted for potential confounding or mediating factors  according to a hierarchical framework. Maternal undernutrition decreased BMI in 0.59 and  1.03 kg/m2 and maternal obesity increased 1.83 and 2.80 kg/m2 in men and women, respectively (p<0.001). Maternal pre-gestational BMI was directly associated with offspring  WC. On the other hand, maternal height was not associated with offspring BMI. An effect of  maternal height was observed on WC just in men (lower tertile 0.40 cm and higher tertile 1.68 cm; p=0.034) at age 23 y. In conclusion, the present study suggests that maternal undernutrition and shorter height are not a risk factor for increase offspring BMI or WC. The findings suggest that nutritional status of the mother and the offspring in adulthood are direct.

 

Key words: mothers, malnutrition, adult, body size, body mass index, obesity, body fat

 distribution, cohort study