Paternal obesity modifies the effect of an antenatal lifestyle intervention in women who are overweight or obese on newborn anthropometry

Jodie M Dodd,Lodewyk E Du Plessis,Jennie Louise,Andrew J Mcphee,Andrea R Deussen,Lisa N Yelland,Rosalie M Grivell,Jeffrey S Robinson,Julie A Owens

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01672-w

Abstract

The contribution of paternal obesity to pregnancy outcomes has been little described. Our aims were to determine whether the effect of an antenatal maternal dietary and lifestyle intervention among women who are overweight or obese on newborn adiposity, was modified by paternal obesity. We conducted a secondary analysis of a multicenter randomised trial. Pregnant women with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 received either Lifestyle Advice or Standard Care. Paternal anthropometric measures included height, weight, BMI; waist, hip, calf and mid-upper arm circumferences; biceps and calf skinfold thickness measurements (SFTM); and percentage body fat. Newborn anthropometric outcomes included length; weight; head, arm, abdominal, and chest circumferences; biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, thigh, and lateral abdominal wall SFTM; and percentage body fat. The effect of an antenatal maternal dietary and lifestyle intervention among women who were overweight or obese on neonatal anthropometric measures, was significantly modified by paternal BMI ≥35.0 kg/m2, with a significantly smaller infant triceps, suprailiac, and thigh SFTM, and percent fat mass, compared with that observed in offspring of lean fathers. Further research is required to determine whether our observed associations are causal, and whether paternal weight loss prior to conception is a potential strategy to reduce the intergenerational effects of obesity.

Highlights

2.1 billion adults are overweight or obese[1]
Most have not evaluated the contribution of paternal body mass index (BMI) to newborn anthropometric measures of adiposity, have involved relatively lean individuals, and have not adequately controlled for maternal factors contributing to fetal growth, or have relied upon maternal reporting of paternal weight and height
Our findings identify an association between high paternal BMI and some measures of newborn adiposity

Summary

Introduction

2.1 billion adults are overweight or obese[1]. In many developed countries, overweight and obesity has increased over the past three decades[1], with over 70% of adult males and 60% of females having a body mass index (BMI) above 25.0 kg/m2 1. Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of high infant birth weight, nursery admission, preterm birth, congenital anomalies, and both jaundice and hypoglycaemia[7], with both high maternal BMI and gestational weight gain significant predictors of offspring obesity[8]. We have reported the primary findings of the LIMIT randomised trial evaluating provision of antenatal dietary and lifestyle advice to women who were overweight or obese, indicating an 18% relative risk reduction in infant birth weight above 4 kg[21], following improvements in maternal diet and physical activity[22]. The planned secondary study reported here, evaluated whether the effect of a randomised antenatal maternal dietary and lifestyle intervention among women who are overweight or obese on newborn adiposity measures, was modified by paternal BMI

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Conclusion