Maternal obesity influences the relationship between location of neonate fat mass and total fat mass

• Published in: Pediatric obesity 2015-08, Vol.10 (4), p.245-251
• Main Authors: Hull, H. R., Thornton, J., Paley, C., Navder, K., Gallagher, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Babies; Body Composition; Body fat; Body Fat Distribution; Childrens health; Fat pattern; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; maternal obesity; Mothers; neonate body composition; neonate fat mass; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Pediatrics; Skinfold Thickness
• ISSN: 2047-6302; 2047-6310
• DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.257

Summary Background It is suggested that maternal obesity perpetuates offspring obesity to future generations. Objective To determine whether location of neonate fat mass (FM: central vs. peripheral) is related to total neonate FM and whether maternal obesity influences this relationship. Methods Neonate body composition and skin‐fold thicknesses were assessed in healthy neonates (n = 371; 1–3 days old). Linear regression models examined the relationship between total FM and location of FM (central vs. peripheral). Location of FM was calculated by skin‐folds: peripheral was the sum of (biceps and triceps)/2 and central was represented by the subscapular skin‐fold. Results A significant interaction was found for location of FM and maternal obesity. Holding all predictors constant, in offspring born to non‐obese mothers, a 0.5 mm increase in central FM predicted a 15 g greater total FM, whereas a 0.5 mm increase in peripheral FM predicted a 66 g greater total FM. However, in offspring born to obese mothers, a 0.5 mm increase in central FM predicted a 56 g total FM, whereas a 0.5 mm increase in peripheral FM predicted a 14 g greater total FM. Conclusions The relationship between total FM and location of FM is influenced by maternal obesity.