BMI, fat mass tightly associated between mothers and daughters
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Key takeaways:
- Girls born to mothers with a higher BMI may have an increased risk for obesity.
- No link observed between paternal and daughter BMI.
- No associations between maternal or paternal BMI were observed for boys.
Maternal BMI and fat mass are positively associated with the BMI and fat mass of daughters aged 6 to 9 years, according to findings published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
In an analysis of data from the Southampton Women’s Survey conducted in the U.K., researchers observed associations in most body composition measurements between mothers and daughters at age 6 to 9 years, but only an association in lean mass was found between fathers and daughters. Additionally, no associations were found between maternal or paternal body composition measurements and those measured in sons.
“These findings are important as girls at higher risk of overweight and obesity due to their maternal characteristics could be identified early in life,” Rebecca J. Moon, BM, PhD, MRCPCH, clinical lecturer in the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre at the University of Southampton, told Healio. “Interventions introduced could reduce the likelihood of childhood obesity.”
The Southampton Women’s Survey included 3,158 women aged 20 to 34 years who had a liveborn infant. The women completed a questionnaire on healthy lifestyle, physical activity and diet, and had anthropometric measures taken at 11 and 34 weeks gestation. Of the women who had a child, researchers collected data from 240 families where the child, mother and father had a DXA scan conducted at the child’s age 8- to 9-year follow-up. The parents’ body composition measurements were compared with the child’s measurements at age 4 years and 6 to 7 years. Multivariable linear regression was performed to examine parent-child relationships. Associations were expressed through the standardized regression coefficient of standard deviation per standard deviation (SD per SD).
Mothers and fathers were associated with their offspring in height for boys aged 6 to 7 years and 8 to 9 years, as well as girls in all three age groups. Maternal BMI was associated with daughter’s BMI at age 6 to 7 years (beta = 0.29 SD per SD; 95% CI, 0.11-0.48) and age 8 to 9 years (beta = 0.33 SD per SD; 95% CI, 0.13-0.54). No associations were observed between fathers and daughters for BMI, and no associations were found between parent and offspring BMI for boys at any age.
Maternal fat mass was associated with fat mass for girls aged 8 to 9 years (beta = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.12-0.49). Similar associations were found between mothers and daughters at age 4 and 6 to 7 years. No associations were observed between fathers and daughters or between either parent and their sons.
“It was surprising that a similar relationship was not seen in boys and their mothers,” Moon said. “However, this has also been observed previously in both animal and human studies assessing the effect of in utero exposures on clinical outcomes, with different effects in boys and girls.”
Associations between mothers and fathers and their daughters were observed for lean mass at age 6 to 7 years and 8 to 9 years. No associations were observed between either parent and their sons.
Moon said more studies are needed to analyze the mechanisms behind the associations.
“Factors could include effects of maternal behavior or diet on the developing fetus during pregnancy or shared lifestyle characteristics after birth,” Moon said, :As the relationships were not present between fathers and their daughters, this suggests an in utero effect may be important. We are particularly interested in the role of vitamin D in early life programming and are currently undertaking work at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre at University of Southampton to try to establish the effects of pregnancy vitamin D supplementation on the child's bone, fat and muscle.”
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