Association of exposure to diabetes in utero with adiposity and fat distribution in a multiethnic population of youth: the Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among Children (EPOCH) Study

Aims/hypothesis

To evaluate whether exposure to maternal gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with adiposity and fat distribution in a multiethnic population of children.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 82 children exposed to maternal GDM and 379 unexposed youths 6?C13?years of age with measured BMI, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, and visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat.

Results

Exposure to maternal GDM was associated with higher BMI (p?=?0.02), larger waist circumference (p?=?0.004), more subcutaneous abdominal fat (p?=?0.01) and increased subscapular to triceps skinfold thickness ratio (p?=?0.01) in models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity and Tanner stage. Adjustment for socioeconomic factors, birthweight and gestational age, maternal smoking during pregnancy and current diet and physical activity did not influence associations; however, adjustment for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI attenuated all associations.

Conclusions/interpretation

Exposure to maternal GDM is associated with increased overall and abdominal adiposity, and a more central fat distribution pattern in 6- to 13-year-old youths from a multi-ethnic population, providing further support for the fetal overnutrition hypothesis.