Gestational weight gain and the association with offspring growth and obesity

Pediatric obesity is a key public health concern in the United States. We studied the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and offspring growth and obesity risk across three developmental periods thought to be associated with obesity in later life. Mother-child pairs from the Maternal Health Practices and Child Development pregnancy cohort and were followed from <26 weeks gestation to 16 years postpartum. GWG was calculated as a ratio of observed to expected gain based on the 2009 Institute of Medicine GWG guidelines and women were classified as gaining below, within, or above the guidelines as inadequate, adequate, and excessive, respectively. We also studied GWG z-scores which account for prepregnancy BMI and are uncorrelated with gestational length. At birth, 8, 18, and 36 months, offspring weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) were calculated, as well as body-mass-index-for-age z-scores (BMIZ) at these ages and 10 and 16 years. In accordance with current recommendations, z-scores were calculated based on the 2006 WHO growth standards for children