Exploring the timing and duration of maternal stress exposure: Impacts on early childhood BMI

- Stress exposure, in both the pre-and post-natal periods, is positively associated with early childhood BMI.
- Cumulative maternal stress has greater impacts on childhood BMI than stress experienced only pre- or post-natally.
- Stress reduction interventions in either the pre- or post-natal period may decrease the likelihood of childhood obesity.
- Interventions that target both the pre- and post-natal periods of early childhood will be most impactful.