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Endocrine Abstracts (2015) 37 GP14.04 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.37.GP.14.04

ECE2015 Guided Posters Diabetes and obesity – Clinical diabetes (8 abstracts)

Parental obesity in association with offspring cognitive and psychomotor development at 4 years of age: the mother child ‘Rhea' cohort in Crete, Greece

Vasiliki Daraki 1, , Vaggelis Georgiou 1 , Katerina Koutra 1 , Andriani Kyriklaki 1 , Mariza Kampouri 1 , Katerina Sarri 1 , Maria Vassilaki 1 , Stathis Papavasiliou 2 , Manolis Kogevinas 1 & Leda Chatzi 1


1Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; 2Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.


Introduction: Animal studies suggest that maternal obesity may impact foetal brain structure and function and increase long-term susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Few human studies have examined these associations with conflicting results. It is unclear if reported associations are due to genetic background or intrauterine mechanisms.

Objective: To investigate the association of maternal and paternal obesity status with offspring cognitive and psychomotor development at 4 years of age using data from a longitudinal, prospective pregnancy cohort, ‘Rhea’ study in Crete, Greece.

Design and methods: The present study includes 652 mother-child pairs, after excluding twin pregnancies and women with pre-gestational diabetes. Pre-pregnancy maternal BMI and paternal BMI were calculated at the first prenatal visit (mean: 12 weeks, S.D.: 1.5) neurodevelopment at 4 years was assessed by means of the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities (MSCA). Emotional and behavioural development at 4 years was assessed by means of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Test. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the effect of pre-pregnancy BMI and paternal BMI on child neurodevelopment at 4 years of age after adjusting for multiple confounders.

Results: Maternal obesity pre-pregnancy was associated with reduced general cognitive (score reduction: −2.51; 95% CI: −4.78, −0.24), quantitative (score reduction: −2.50 95% CI: −4.89, −0.11) and memory development scores (score reduction: −2.66 95% CI: −5.07, 0.26) at 4 years of age. These associations were more pronounced in girls compared to boys. No association was found between pre-pregnancy BMI and child emotional and behavioural development or ADHD symptoms at 4 years of age. Paternal BMI was not associated with offspring cognitive and behavioural development at 4 years of age.

Conclusion: Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with reduced cognitive development at preschool age. This association appeared more likely to be due to intrauterine mechanisms than shared family and social characteristics.

Disclosure: This work was supported by the ‘Program of prevention and early diagnosis of obesity and neurodevelopment disorders in preschool age children in the prefecture of Heraklion, Crete, Greece’ (NSRF 2007-2013 project, MIS 349580), co-f.

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