Maternal obesity and implications for the long-term health of the offspring

Abstract

The current epidemic of obesity among women of childbearing age has serious implications for both the woman and her potential offspring. The adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with maternal obesity, as well as the long-term implications for the mothers' health, are well established. However, there is increasing evidence indicating that offspring of obese mothers have an increased risk of obesity, cardiometabolic risk, adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, and respiratory challenges, which follow them all the way to adulthood. This chapter provides clinicians and researchers with an overview of the long-term health implications for offspring exposed to maternal obesity.