The association between maternal nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy and 2-year-old offspring adiposity: analysis from the ROLO study

AIM: To examine the association between maternal nutrition and lifestyle factors and offspring adiposity, using baseline and 2-year postpartum follow-up data from a randomised control trial of low glycaemic index diet. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Food diaries and lifestyle questionnaires were completed during pregnancy and infant feeding and maternal lifestyle questionnaires 2 years postpartum for 281 mother and infant pairs from the ROLO study. Maternal anthropometry was measured throughout pregnancy and infant and maternal anthropometry was measured 2 years postpartum. RESULTS: Maternal 2 year postpartum body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with offspring BMI-for-age z-score (B = 0.105, p = 0.015). Trimester 2 saturated fat intake was positively associated with offspring subscapular:triceps skinfold ratio (B = 0.018, p = 0.001). Trimester 1 glycaemic index was also positively associated with offspring sum of subscapular and triceps skinfolds (B = 0.009, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal BMI 2 years postpartum was positively associated with offspring BMI. Pregnancy saturated fat intake was positively and polyunsaturated fat negatively associated with offspring adiposity. While further research is necessary, pregnancy and the postpartum period may be early opportunities to combat childhood obesity. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10389-016-0740-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.