Sarah Keathley, MS, RD, LD

Overweight and obesity are becoming ever-increasing threats for children, along with their comorbidities. As this epidemic grows, we will see more studies, much like this one, that help us connect the dots between obesity to environmental surroundings, genetics and metabolic factors. We know that increased maternal weight during pregnancy can potentially cause additional risks like gestational diabetes, premature birth, birth defects in the infant (brain, spine and heart) and high birth weight. This study adds to the research data that points us in the direction that a mother’s weight pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and postpartum does indeed play a role in their child's weight. According to the study, a reduction in the mother's weight pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and postpartum does decrease the risk for obesity for the child. You will notice that the article states that the mother’s BMI before pregnancy is a stronger predictor of the child’s likelihood of obesity in the future. Meaning that those with a lower BMI pre-pregnancy have a decreased risk overall for obesity. It is important to note that the mother’s weight is not the sole factor to determine a child’s obesity, but it does play an impactful role. We certainly need further studies to expand on these current findings and build on this research.

What are the potential implications of this study? An overwhelming need for a specific approach to health care. Preventive care and nutrition education are both absolutely necessary. This should be at the forefront of patient care. With this valuable research in hand, we have the opportunity to greatly affect the next “unborn” generation by significantly reducing their risk for having overweight and obesity, along with their comorbidities — not to mention change our own personal health outcomes as women and mothers. Nutrition education for women of childbearing age should be readily available. If your patient comes in already pregnant and is classified as having overweight or obesity, appropriate nutrition education should still be given because we know that postpartum weight loss can significantly reduce the risk for obesity and being overweight in their child. Support is key: be open minded and listen.

A physician's office should create a safe space for all patients, making sure not to instill guilt and shame. It is vital that health care providers take an educated, well-researched approach with weight loss tools that we know have proven to be successful. Doctors must know personal information about patients in order to help them have long-term success with weight loss. What are their socioeconomic status, prior health history and medications? Were there previous efforts to lose weight, and are there food insecurities present, etc.? Appropriate blood work and physical measurements should be taken and well documented. Recommendations should be specific — we are teaching our patients not just how to eat for themselves but also how to feed their little ones after birth as they grow. You are impacting not just the mother but an entire family, possibly a generation. A health care provider should be extremely familiar with accessible and appropriate nutrition education resources, weight loss programs, weight loss medications, weight loss surgeries, etc. If it is not in your scope of practice, make sure to have a dietitian readily available to refer your patients to and encourage them to seek additional professional support.