Impact of Maternal Physical Activity and Infant Feeding Practices on Infant Weight Gain and Adiposity

Abstract

Increasing evidence supports the contribution of intrauterine environmental exposures on obesity risk in offspring. Few studies have included maternal and infant lifestyle factors. Our objective was to study the impact of maternal physical activity, infant feeding, and screen time on offspring weight gain and adiposity. In a prospective cohort study, 246 mothers underwent testing during pregnancy to assess glucose tolerance status and insulin sensitivity. Anthropometry and questionnaires on physical activity, infant feeding, and screen time were completed. Multiple-linear regression was performed to examine the impact of maternal and infant factors on infant weight gain and weight-for-length z-score at 1 year. Infant weight outcomes were negatively predicted by maternal pregravid vigorous/sport index and exclusive breastfeeding duration. After adjustment, each unit increase in maternal pregravid vigorous/sport index decreased infant weight gain by 218.6 g (t = 2.44, P = 0.016) and weight-for-length z-score by 0.20 (t = 2.17, P = 0.031). Each month of exclusive breastfeeding reduced infant weight gain by 116.4 g (t = 3.97, P < 0.001) and weight-for-length z-score by 0.08 (t = 2.59, P = 0.01). Maternal pregravid physical activity and exclusive breastfeeding duration are associated with weight gain and adiposity as early as 1 year of age.

Effect of Breastfeeding Practices and Maternal Nutrition on Baby’s Weight Gain During First 6 Months

“…Higher weight gain in partially breastfed babies is a matter of concern and has also been reported by others [16,17]. Obesity in children is on the rise the world over, including in urban areas of developing countries such as India [18].…”

Pregnancy and post-delivery maternal weight changes and overweight in preschool children

“…After birth, maternal obesity, diet and diabetes may also program neural development of the neonatal hypothalamus, influencing long-term appetite (Armitage et al, 2008). Both maternal and paternal BMI are associated with child’s BMI (Durmuş et al, 2013), suggesting that genetics as well as shared environments, and post-birth behaviors, including breastfeeding and physical activity, are linked to both maternal and infant weights (Chu et al, 2012). …”

Windows of opportunity for physical activity in the prevention of obesity

“…Although the effects of being born LGA or SGA have known implications over the life course , a small body of research provides some empirical support for the propagation of maternal gestational physical activity effects through to infant development. Pregravid maternal physical activity was negatively associated with infant weight gain from birth to age 1 year , and physical activity during pregnancy was associated with lower weight in infants at 18–24 months . Infant body composition has also been assessed in a small number of studies; however, the findings have been mixed.…”