Latest research appears to show a link between weight gain in pregnant women and the risk of their offspring developing asthma, reports Veronica Hackethal for Medscape.The report is based on a meta-analysis of studies done by Forno et al and published in the journal Paediatrics

The analysis included 14 studies published between March 1996 and October 2013. The studies covered 108,321 mother–child pairs; the children's ages ranged from 14 months to 16 years. Studies came from the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, the United States, Denmark, Finland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Results linked obesity during pregnancy to increased odds for having asthma or wheeze currently (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 - 1.37; P = .003) or ever (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.16 - 1.49; P < .001). Likewise, children of women who experienced gestational weight gain had increased odds of ever having asthma or wheeze (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.001 - 1.34; P = .049). For each unit (1 kg/m2) increase in maternal body mass index, odds of childhood asthma rose by 2% to 3%.

As a result of the analysis including only articles published in English, or translatable into English, the generalizability of the results could be limited. Included studies had wide variability in their methods. Although the authors employed several strategies to deal with this, the quality of the included studies limits results. In addition, maternal obesity is a risk factor for childhood obesity, which in turn increases the risk for asthma, and the authors could not adjust for this potential confounder. Finally, the small number of studies could also limit results.

The authors described several ways in which maternal obesity could influence development of asthma in their offspring. First, obesity is linked to chronic, low-grade inflammation, which could influence fetal lung and immune system development. Second, differences in dietary patterns among obese women could affect asthma risk in offspring. For example, obese women may have lower levels of vitamin D or consume more meat, dairy, and fats. Genetics may also play a role.

"[Maternal obesity during pregnancy] is a significant risk factor for the development of childhood asthma or wheeze," the authors conclude, adding that "[gestational weight gain] may also increase the risk of childhood asthma or wheeze."

More reason to watch that weight during pregnancy.

Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/828639?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=224430BG

Paper at: (abstract)...http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/07/16/peds.2014-0439.abstract