Maternal weight status before pregnancy is strongly associated with offspring weight status in childhood

Abstract

Commentary on: Heslehurst N, Vieira R, Akhter Z, et al . The association between maternal body mass index and child obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Medicine 2019;16:e1002817. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002817. Obesity is associated with adverse health outcomes across life. The rise in its global prevalence is therefore one of the most important public health challenges of our time.1 Obesity tracks across life and so interventions to reduce its prevalence and minimise its lifelong consequences need to commence early in life.2 Parental and offspring weight status are strongly associated,3 and it is recognised that intervening on these intergenerational associations may be …