Abstract
Children of obese mothers are at increased risk of developmental adversities. Maternal obesity is linked to an inflammatory in utero environment, which, in turn, is associated with neurodevelopmental impairments in the offspring. This is an integrated mechanism review of animal and human literature related to the hypothesis that maternal obesity causes maternal and fetal inflammation, and that this inflammation adversely affects the neurodevelopment of children. We propose integrative models in which several aspects of inflammation are considered along the causative pathway linking maternal obesity with neurodevelopmental limitations.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / etiology
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Autistic Disorder / etiology
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Biomarkers / blood
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Body Mass Index*
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Brain / embryology
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Causality
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Cognition Disorders / etiology
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Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic
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Disease Models, Animal
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Infant, Newborn
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Inflammation / blood
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Inflammation / physiopathology*
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Male
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Models, Biological
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Neurodevelopmental Disorders / etiology*
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Neurodevelopmental Disorders / physiopathology
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Obesity / physiopathology*
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy Complications / physiopathology*
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Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
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Psychotic Disorders / etiology
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Risk