Wpływ otyłości u matki w czasie ciÄ Å¼y na ryzyko rozwoju autyzmu u dziecka

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder, the incidence of which has significantly increased in recent years. Children with autism have impairments in social skills, communication, and imagination. The health state of the mother seems to be particularly important, especially metabolic disorders during and before pregnancy. One of the important factors, that may affect the risk of autism in children, is maternal overweight/obesity during pregnancy. Obesity which is linked to bad eating habits alters homeostasis resulting in oxidative stress, inflammations and hormonal disturbances. All of these factors may predispose to abnormalities of fetal growth and result in the occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. The aim of this paper is to review the literature on the relationship between maternal obesity during pregnancy and risk of autism in children.