Background: The risk of obesity is determined by a complex interaction of prenatal, lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors.
Objective: To investigate the differential impact of prenatal, child, and family factors on body weight status in childhood.
Methods: The current study links population-based survey data of Grade 5 students who participated in the 2003 Children's Lifestyle and School Performance Study in Nova Scotia, Canada, with a provincial perinatal registry. Multilevel logistic regression was used to investigate the association between prenatal, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors and childhood overweight.
Results: Of the 4 298 participating children, 3 426 (80%) could be linked with information in the perinatal registry. Small-for-gestational age infants appeared to be less likely to be overweight at age 10 or 11 years (odds ratio [OR]=0.68) whereas those born large-for-gestational age were more likely to be overweight (OR=1.23). Maternal pre-pregnancy weight was associated with childhood overweight (OR=4.42 for >80 kg vs. <60 kg) as were the child's physical activity (OR=0.65 for >7x/week vs. < or =2x/week) and screen time (OR=1.82 for >6 h/day vs. < or =1h/day). Smoking during pregnancy increased the child's odds for being overweight (OR=1.42 for >0.5 packs/day vs. none). Children living in neighborhoods with higher housing values were less likely to be overweight (OR=0.68 for highest vs. lowest tertile).
Conclusions: Overweight young women should be advised on the importance of healthy eating, active living and maintaining a healthy weight in the pre-pregnancy years to reduce the risk of overweight in their offspring.