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Can We Modify the Intrauterine Environment to Halt the Intergenerational Cycle of Obesity?

Author

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  • Kristi B. Adamo

    (Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Faculty of Medicine, Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada)

  • Zachary M. Ferraro

    (Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada)

  • Kendra E. Brett

    (Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
    Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada)

Abstract

Child obesity is a global epidemic whose development is rooted in complex and multi-factorial interactions. Once established, obesity is difficult to reverse and epidemiological, animal model, and experimental studies have provided strong evidence implicating the intrauterine environment in downstream obesity. This review focuses on the interplay between maternal obesity, gestational weight gain and lifestyle behaviours, which may act independently or in combination, to perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of obesity. The gestational period, is a crucial time of growth, development and physiological change in mother and child. This provides a window of opportunity for intervention via maternal nutrition and/or physical activity that may induce beneficial physiological alternations in the fetus that are mediated through favourable adaptations to in utero environmental stimuli. Evidence in the emerging field of epigenetics suggests that chronic, sub-clinical perturbations during pregnancy may affect fetal phenotype and long-term human data from ongoing randomized controlled trials will further aid in establishing the science behind ones predisposition to positive energy balance.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristi B. Adamo & Zachary M. Ferraro & Kendra E. Brett, 2012. "Can We Modify the Intrauterine Environment to Halt the Intergenerational Cycle of Obesity?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-45, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:4:p:1263-1307:d:17195
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Keppel, K.G. & Taffel, S.M., 1993. "Pregnancy-related weight gain and retention: Implications of the 1990 Institute of Medicine guidelines," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 83(8), pages 1100-1103.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:4039 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Lyra Halili & Rebecca H Liu & Ashley Weeks & Raywat Deonandan & Kristi B Adamo, 2019. "High maternal self-efficacy is associated with meeting Institute of Medicine gestational weight gain recommendations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, December.

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