Maternal hyperglycemia and excessive weight gain are independently linked with an increased risk of childhood obesity, according to a study involving more than 24,000 individuals.

Investigators screened mothers for gestational diabetes. They later measured the height and weight of ~13,000 offspring annually until age 10. Among the results:

• There was a significant trend for developing childhood overweight and obesity during the first decade in those whose mothers had hyperglycemia and gestational weight gain >40 pounds.

• The effects remained after adjusting for maternal age, parity, and pre-pregnancy BMI.

• Risk of childhood obesity was 29% higher in those whose mothers had gestational diabetes, and 16% higher in those whose mothers had excessive gestational weight gain.

Citation: Hiller T, Pedula K, Vesco K, Oshiro C, Ogasawara K. Impact of maternal glucose and gestational weight gain on child obesity over the first decade of life in normal birth weight infants. [Published online ahead of print May 6, 2016]. Matern Child Health J. doi:10.1007/s10995-016-1955-7.