Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Maternal Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Offspring Temperament and Behavior at 1 and 2 Years of Age

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Child Psychiatry & Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent research suggests that fetal exposure to increased maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy may be associated with psychopathology later in life. When this link first emerges, and if it is due to intrauterine exposures or confounding variables is not known. We therefore assessed associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and: (1) temperament at 1 year of age, and (2) Child Behavior Checklist internalizing and externalizing scales at age 2 in the 2900 mothers and infants enrolled in the Western Australian Pregnancy Study. Pre-pregnancy BMI was positively associated with externalizing scores (β = 0.131, 95 % CI 0.013–0.249) at age 2, even after adjustment for confounders, but not with internalizing scores or an increased risk of difficult temperament. These data suggest that fetal exposure to increased maternal BMI is associated with elevated levels of behavior problems as early as age 2, and that this may be linked to the intrauterine environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Department of Health (2009) Health Profile of England 2008. Available from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_093465. Accessed 2 Aug 2012

  2. F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future (2011) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Washington, DC

  3. Guelinckx I, Devlieger R, Beckers K, Vansant G (2008) Maternal obesity: pregnancy complications, gestational weight gain and nutrition. Obes Rev 9:140–150

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rowlands I, Graves N, de Jersey S, McIntyre HD, Callaway L (2010) Obesity in pregnancy: outcomes and economics. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 15:94–99

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Jolly MC, Sebire NJ, Harris JP, Regan L, Robinson S (2003) Risk factors for macrosomia and its clinical consequences: a study of 350,311 pregnancies. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 111:9–14

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stothard KJ, Tennant PWG, Bell R, Rankin J (2009) Maternal overweight and obesity and the risk of congenital anomalies. JAMA 301:636–650

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kim SY, Dietz PM, England L, Morrow B, Callaghan WM (2007) Trends in pre-pregnancy obesity in Nine States, 1993–2003. Obesity (Silver Spring) 15:986–993

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gluckman P, Hanson M (2005) The fetal matrix: evolution, development and disease. Cambridge University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  9. Drake AJ, Reynolds RM (2010) Impact of maternal obesity on offspring obesity and cardiometabolic disease risk. Reproduction 140:387–398

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Reichman NE, Nepomnyaschy L (2008) Maternal prepregnancy obesity and diagnosis of asthma in offspring at age 3 years. Matern Child Health J 12:725–733

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kilgour AHM, Starr JM, Whalley LJ (2010) Associations between childhood intelligence (IQ), adult morbidity and mortality. Maturitas 65:98–105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kokko K, Pulkkinen L (2000) Aggression in childhood and long-term unemployment in adulthood: a cycle of maladaptation and some protective factors. Dev Psychol 36:463–472

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Chu SY, Callaghan WM, Kim SY, Schmid CH, Lau J, England LJ, Dietz PM (2007) Maternal obesity and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 30:2070–2076

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. LaCoursiere DY, Baksh L, Bloebaum L, Varner MW (2006) Maternal body mass index and self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms. Matern Child Health J 10:385–390

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. LaCoursiere DY, Barrett-Connor E, O’Hara MW, Hutton A, Varner MW (2010) The association between prepregnancy obesity and screening positive for postpartum depression. BJOG 117:1011–1018

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Zumoff B, Strain GW (1994) A perspective on the hormonal abnormalities of obesity: are they cause or effect? Obes Res 2:56–67

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Catalano PM, Kirwan JP, Haugel-de Mouzon S, King J (2003) Gestational diabetes and insulin resistance: role in short and long term implications for mother and fetus. J Nutr 133:1674–1683

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kyrou I, Tsigos C (2009) Stress hormones: physiological stress and regulation of metabolism. Curr Opin Pharmacol 9:787–793

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Ramsay JE, Ferrell WR, Crawford L, Wallace AM, Greer IA, Sattar N (2002) Maternal obesity is associated with dysregulation of metabolic, vascular, and inflammatory pathways. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87:4231–4237

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Garcia OP, Long KZ, Rosado JL (2009) Impact of micronutrient deficiencies on obesity. Nutr Rev 67:559–572

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Tozuka Y, Kumon M, Wada E, Onodera M, Mochizuki H, Wada K (2010) Maternal obesity impairs hippocampal BDNF production and spatial learning performance in young mouse offspring. Neurochem Int 57:235–247

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Vucetic Z, Kimmel J, Totoki K, Hollenbeck E, Reyes TM (2010) Maternal high-fat diet alters methylation and gene expression of dopamine and opioid-related genes. Endocrinology 151:4756–4764

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lanfumey L, Mongeau R, Cohen-Salmon C, Hamon M (2008) Corticosteroid- serotonin interactions in the neurobiological mechanisms of stress-related disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 32:1174–1184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Oades RD (2008) Dopamine-serotonin interactions in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Prog Brain Res 172:543–565

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Van Lieshout RJ, Taylor VH, Boyle MH (2011) Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy obesity and neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring: a systematic review. Obes Rev 12:e548–e559

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Brion M-J, Zeegers M, Jaddoe V, Verhulst F, Tiemeier H, Lawlor DA et al (2011) Intrauterine effects of maternal prepregnancy overweight on child cognition and behavior in 2 cohorts. Pediatrics 127:e202–e211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Buss C, Entringer S, Poggi Davis E, Hobel CJ, Swanson JM, Wadhwa PD et al (2012) Impaired executive function mediates the association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and child ADHD symptoms. PLoS One 7(6):e37758. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0037758

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Tanda R, Salsberry PJ, Reagan PB, Fang MZ (2012) The impact of prepregnancy obesity on children’s cognitive test scores. Maternal Child Health J Feb 17 [Epub ahead of print]

  29. Krakowiak P, Walker CK, Bremer AA, Baker AS, Ozonoff S, Hansen RL et al (2012) Maternal metabolic conditions and risk for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2583

  30. Taylor VH, McIntyre RS, Remington G, Levitan RD, Stonehocker B, Sharma A (2012) Beyond pharmacotherapy: understanding the links between obesity and chronic mental illness. Can J Psychiatry 57:5–12

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang Y, Beydoun MA (2007) The obesity epidemic in the United States—gender, age, socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and geographic characteristics: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Epidemiol Rev 29:6–28

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Eaton W (2004) Risk factors for major mental disorders: a review of the epidemiologic literature. Available from: http://apps2.jhsph.edu/weaton/mdrf/main_files/page0001.html. Accessed 10 Febr 2012

  33. Jones PB, Rantakallio P, Hartikainen A-L, Isohanni M, Sipila P (1998) Schizohprenia as a long-term outcome of pregnancy, delivery, and perinatal complications: a 28-year follow-up of the 1966 North Finland general population birth cohort. Am J Psychiatry 155:355–364

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Rodriguez A (2010) Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and risk for inattention and negative emotionality in children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 51:134–143

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Newnham JP, Evans SF, Michael CA, Stanley FJ, Landau LI (1993) Effects of frequent ultrasound during pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 342:887–891

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Li J, Kendall GE, Henderson S, Downie J, Landsborough L, Oddy WH (2008) Maternal psychosocial wellbeing in pregnancy and breastfeeding duration. Acta Pediatr 97:221–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO Consultation (2000) WHO Technical Report Series 894. World Health Organization, Geneva

  38. Carey WB, McDevitt SC (1978) Revision of the Infant Temperament Questionnaire. Pediatrics 61:735–739

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Oberklaid F, Prior M, Golvan D, Clements A, Williamson A (1984) Temperament in Australian infants. Aust Paediatr J 20:181–184

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Fullard W, McDevitt SC, Carey WB (1984) Assessing temperament in one- to three-year-old children. J Pediatr Psychol 9:205–216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Prior M, Sanson A, Oberklaid F, Northam E (1987) Measurement of temperament in one to 3 year old children. Int J Behav Dev 10:121–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Achenbach TM, Edelbrock C, Howell CT (1987) Emprically based assessment of the behavioral/emotoinal problems of 2- and 3-year-old children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 15:629–650

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Robinson M, Oddy WH, Li J, Kendall GE, de Klerk NH, Silburn SR et al (2008) Pre- and postnatal influences on preschool mental health: a large-scale cohort study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 49:1118–1128

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Robinson M, Oddy MH, McLean NJ, Jacoby P, Pennell CE, de Klerk NH et al (2010) Low-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and risk to child behavioural development: a prospective cohort study. BJOG 117:1139–1152

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Ornoy A (2005) Growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of children born to mothers with pregestational and gestational diabetes. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev 3:104–113

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Tennant C, Andrews G (1976) A scale to measure the stress of life events. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 10:27–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Rodriguez A, Mietttunen J, Henriksen TB, Olsen J, Obel C, Taanila A et al (2008) Maternal adiposity prior to pregnancy is associated with ADHD symptoms in offspring: evidence from three prospective pregnancy cohorts. Int J Obes (London) 32:350–357

    Google Scholar 

  48. Van Lieshout RJ, Robinson M, Boyle MH (2012) Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and internalizing and externalizing problems in offspring. Manuscript under review

  49. Gibbs MV, Reeves D, Cunningham CC (1987) The Application of Temperament Questionnaires to a British sample: issues of reliability and validity. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 28:61–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Fagot BI (1995) Classification of problem behaviors in young children: a comparison of four systems. J Appl Dev Psychol 16:95–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Tremblay RE, Nagin DS, Seguin JR, Zoccolillo M, Zelazo PD, Boivin M et al (2004) Physical aggression during early childhood: trajectories and predictors. Pediatrics 114:43–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Alink LRA, Mesman J, van Zeijl J, Stolk MN, Juffer F, Koot HM (2006) The early childhood aggression curve: development of physical aggression in 10- to 50-month-old children. Child Dev 77:954–966

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Cummings EM, Iannotti RJ, Zahn-Waxler C (1989) Aggression between peers in early childhood: individual continuity and developmental change. Child Dev 60:887–895

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. LeMoal M (2008) Addiction and the brain antireward system. Annu Rev Psychol 59:29–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Beauchaine TP (2001) Vagal tone, development, and Gray’s motivational theory: toward an integrated model of autonomic nervous system functioning in psychopathology. Devel Psychopathol 13:183–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Johansen EB, Aase H, Meyer A, Sagvolden T (2002) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behavior explained by dysfunctioning reinforcement and extinction processes. Behav Brain Res 130:37–45

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Volkow ND, Wang G-J, Fowler JS, Telang F (2008) Overlapping neuronal circuits in addiction and obesity: evidence of systems pathology. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 363:3191–3200

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Neggers Y, Goldenberg RL (2003) Some thoughts on body mass index, micronutrient intakes and pregnancy outcome. J Nutr 133(5 Suppl 2):1737S–1740S

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Core funding for 1 and 2 year follow-ups was provided by the Raine Medical Research Foundation, The University of Western Australia (UWA), the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, the UWA Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the Women and Infants Research Foundation and Curtin University as well as the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC; Grants #963209, #211912, #003209 and #353514), and Australian Health Management. We are grateful to the participating families and the Raine Study team, including its data collectors, cohort managers, data managers, clerical staff, research scientists and volunteers. Dr. Van Lieshout holds a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship and Dr. Boyle, a Canada Research Chair in the Social Determinants of Child Health. Dr. Robinson is funded by Australian Rotary Health.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors have any financial or other relationships that would be considered a conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chedoke Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Box 2000, Central Building Rm 304, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada

    Ryan J. Van Lieshout, Alison Niccols & Michael H. Boyle

  2. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior (Dr. Schmidt), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Louis A. Schmidt

  3. The Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, West Perth, WA, Australia

    Monique Robinson

Authors
  1. Ryan J. Van Lieshout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Louis A. Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Monique Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alison Niccols
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michael H. Boyle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ryan J. Van Lieshout.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van Lieshout, R.J., Schmidt, L.A., Robinson, M. et al. Maternal Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Offspring Temperament and Behavior at 1 and 2 Years of Age. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 44, 382–390 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-012-0332-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-012-0332-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation