Nutrition, weight gain and eating behavior in pregnancy: A review of experimental evidence for long-term effects on the risk of obesity in offspring

Obesity has reached near epidemic proportions in the developed world. As reproductive age women are a part of this trend, the effect of maternal obesity on the developing fetus must be investigated. In this review, we evaluated the experimental evidence relating maternal nutritional status and eating behavior before and during pregnancy on the risk of obesity in the offspring. The studies were compiled and selected based on their methodologies, study design and relevance. The analyzed studies were compiled to quantify, if possible, the relationship between maternal and offspring weight. Descriptive and observational studies were also included if they were seminal in the field. Based on the current data, maternal obesity is a critical factor exacerbating multigenerational obesity. Mechanistic studies, mainly in animals, have identified potential areas for intervention which might limit transmission of adverse risk factors for obesity from mothers to infants during pregnancy.

► Both maternal undernutrition and overnutrition adversely affect fetal growth.
► Infants who are born small and large for gestational age are predisposed to obesity.
► Multiple candidate mechanisms link maternal nutrition with offspring health.
► Offspring taste preference may be programmed in utero.