To provide a broader perspective on the relationship between maternal and child obesity, associations between several components of pregnancy-related weight and offspring body mass index (BMI) were examined. The Archive for Child Health (ARCH) enrolled and interviewed women at first prenatal visit in three clinics in mid-Michigan. A subset of mothers with singleton children participated in an age 3-6 y follow-up visit (mean=4.8 y) where anthropometric data was collected on both mother and child. Data collection included interview at enrollment (pre pregnancy BMI), birth certificate review (gestational weight gain), and measured height, weight, and waist circumference of mothers and children at follow-up. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association between maternal weight and waist circumference and offspring BMI. Maternal body composition at follow-up was also tested as a mediator. Characteristics of the study sample (n=114) included: 54% White, 13% Black, 18% Hispanic, and 15% other race/ethnicity; 82% had household incomes < $50,000/year; 84% reported no history of smoking. After adjusting for race and smoking history, only pre pregnancy BMI (β=0.84, 95% CI 0.1, 1.6) and maternal follow-up BMI (β =0.69, 95% CI 0.03, 1.3) were significantly associated with childhood BMI, with no evidence of mediation as tested. Our findings add to recent literature by revealing associations between a measure of maternal postpartum body composition (i.e. follow-up BMI) and offspring BMI. These associations may represent the influence of lifestyle and other environmental factors.
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