Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight

Abstract Background Birth weight is an indicator of intra-uterine conditions but also a determinant for future health. The importance of preconception health for a healthy birth weight has been emphasized, but evidence is lacking on how modifiable factors in adolescence, such as body mass index (BMI...

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Main Authors: Rebecka Bramsved, Staffan Mårild, Maria Bygdell, Jenny M. Kindblom, Ingela Lindh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-03-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05529-1
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author Rebecka Bramsved
Staffan Mårild
Maria Bygdell
Jenny M. Kindblom
Ingela Lindh
author_facet Rebecka Bramsved
Staffan Mårild
Maria Bygdell
Jenny M. Kindblom
Ingela Lindh
author_sort Rebecka Bramsved
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Birth weight is an indicator of intra-uterine conditions but also a determinant for future health. The importance of preconception health for a healthy birth weight has been emphasized, but evidence is lacking on how modifiable factors in adolescence, such as body mass index (BMI) and smoking, affect future pregnancy outcome. We evaluated associations between BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy and birth weight of the first-born child. Methods This longitudinal study included 1256 mothers, born 1962–1992, and their first-born children, born between 1982–2016. Self-reported questionnaire information on weight, height and smoking at age 19 was cross-linked with national register data obtained at the start of pregnancy and with the birth weights of the children. Univariable and multivariable linear regressions were performed to determine the impact of maternal factors at 19 years of age and at the start of the pregnancy respectively, and the importance of BMI status at these points of time for the birth weight of the first child. Results BMI and smoking at the start of the pregnancy displayed strong associations with birth weight in a multivariable analysis, BMI with a positive association of 14.9 g per BMI unit (95% CI 6.0; 23.8 p = 0.001) and smoking with a negative association of 180.5 g (95% CI -275.7; -85.4) p = 0.0002). Smoking and BMI at 19 years of age did not show this association. Maternal birth weight showed significant associations in models at both time-points. Becoming overweight between age 19 and the start of the pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher birth weight (144.6 (95% CI 70.7;218.5) p = 0.0002) compared to mothers with normal weight at both time points. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the time period between adolescence and first pregnancy could be a window of opportunity for targeted health promotion to prevent intergenerational transmission of obesity.
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spelling doaj.art-8d76793a816d4b788e1a29a2195604d22023-04-03T05:44:03ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932023-03-012311910.1186/s12884-023-05529-1Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weightRebecka Bramsved0Staffan Mårild1Maria Bygdell2Jenny M. Kindblom3Ingela Lindh4Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg UniversityCentre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg UniversityCentre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg UniversityAbstract Background Birth weight is an indicator of intra-uterine conditions but also a determinant for future health. The importance of preconception health for a healthy birth weight has been emphasized, but evidence is lacking on how modifiable factors in adolescence, such as body mass index (BMI) and smoking, affect future pregnancy outcome. We evaluated associations between BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy and birth weight of the first-born child. Methods This longitudinal study included 1256 mothers, born 1962–1992, and their first-born children, born between 1982–2016. Self-reported questionnaire information on weight, height and smoking at age 19 was cross-linked with national register data obtained at the start of pregnancy and with the birth weights of the children. Univariable and multivariable linear regressions were performed to determine the impact of maternal factors at 19 years of age and at the start of the pregnancy respectively, and the importance of BMI status at these points of time for the birth weight of the first child. Results BMI and smoking at the start of the pregnancy displayed strong associations with birth weight in a multivariable analysis, BMI with a positive association of 14.9 g per BMI unit (95% CI 6.0; 23.8 p = 0.001) and smoking with a negative association of 180.5 g (95% CI -275.7; -85.4) p = 0.0002). Smoking and BMI at 19 years of age did not show this association. Maternal birth weight showed significant associations in models at both time-points. Becoming overweight between age 19 and the start of the pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher birth weight (144.6 (95% CI 70.7;218.5) p = 0.0002) compared to mothers with normal weight at both time points. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the time period between adolescence and first pregnancy could be a window of opportunity for targeted health promotion to prevent intergenerational transmission of obesity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05529-1Birth weightBody mass indexOverweightObesityPregnancyAdolescence
spellingShingle Rebecka Bramsved
Staffan Mårild
Maria Bygdell
Jenny M. Kindblom
Ingela Lindh
Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Birth weight
Body mass index
Overweight
Obesity
Pregnancy
Adolescence
title Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight
title_full Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight
title_fullStr Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight
title_full_unstemmed Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight
title_short Impact of BMI and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight
title_sort impact of bmi and smoking in adolescence and at the start of pregnancy on birth weight
topic Birth weight
Body mass index
Overweight
Obesity
Pregnancy
Adolescence
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05529-1
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