Review Article

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Risk of Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Offspring: A Systematic Review

Table 1

Studies included in review of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and childhood obesity.

Author, year (population)Study description (name, years, design)Number in analysis
(cohort)
Child age in years at outcomeGDM diagnosis criteriaOutcome Number and percent of overweight/obese children among women with and
without GDM
Multivariable adjustments (GDM versus no GDM)

GDMNo GDM

Boerschmann et al., 2010 (Germany)German GDM and BABYDIAB study, 1989–2000, prospective222112 of 3 elevated oral glucose tolerance test of 75 g glucose loadBMI ≥ 90th percentiled23/74 (31.1)23/148 (15.5)No

Boney et al., 2005
(USA)
Longitudinal cohort study, years not available, prospective109
(179)
11Clinical diagnosis from medical recordsBMI > 85th percentileb16/58 (27.6)14/51 (27.5)No

Buzinaro et al., 2008 (Brazil)Hospital cohort,1988–199, prospective 73 102 hr clinical measure twice a day in third trimesterBMI > 85th percentilea12/23 (52.2)4/27 (14.8) No
BMI > 95th percentilea1/23 (4.3)0/27 (0)

Gillman et al., 2003 (USA)Nurses Health Study II, 1996, retrospective 14.881
(16.550)
9–14Maternal self-report from interview/questionnaireBMI 85th–95th percentileb72/465 (15.5)1917/14,416 (13.3) Yes
BMI > 95th percentileb45/465 (9.7)958/14,416 (6.6)

Carpenter and Coustan:
BMI > 85th percentileb60/173 (34.7)1,788/7,609 (23.5)
Hillier et al., 2007
(USA)
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and Northwest, 1995–2000, prospective 7.782
(9.439)
5–73 h 100 g oral glucose tolerance testBMI > 95th percentileb35/173 (20.2)928/7,609 (12.2) Yes
National Diabetes Data Group:
BMI > 85th percentileb103/370 (27.8)1,788/7,609 (23.5)
BMI > 95th percentileb64/370 (17.3)928/7,609 (12.2)

Lawlor et al., 2010 (United Kingdom)The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), 1991–1992, prospective6.584
(10.591)
9–11Clinical diagnosis from medical recordsBMI > 85th percentilec12/40 (30.0)1481/6544 (22.6)Yes

Malee et al., 2002
(USA)
Diabetes in Pregnancy Program at the Women and Infants Hospital, 1991–1993, Prospective64
(262)
92 abnormal 100 g glucose tolerance testBMI ≥ 85th percentiled11/33 (33.3)8/31 (25.8)No

Pirkola et al., 2010 (Finland)Northern Finland 1986 birth cohort, 1985–1986, prospective745
(4.168)
16One abnormal value from a 2 hour, 75 g oral glucose tolerance testBMI > 85th percentilec18/84 (21.4)113/661 (17.1)No

Tam et al., 2009 (Hong Kong)GDM cohort of women at the Prince of Wales Hospital, 1992–1994, prospective164
(1032)
7–1075 g oral glucose tolerance testBMI ≥ 85th percentiled19/63 (30.2)26/101 (25.5)No

Whitaker et al., 1998 (USA)GDM cohort of women from an HMO in Washington state, 1985–1986, prospective315
(524)
5–103 h 100 g oral glucose tolerance testBMI ≥ 85th percentiled11/58 (19.0)62/257 (24.1)No

Wright et al., 2009 (USA)Project Viva, 1999–2002, prospective1086
(1.579)
3Nonfasting oral glucose challenge testBMI ≥ 95th percentileb7/51 (13.7)91/1035 (8.8)No

Wroblewska-Seniuk et al., 2009 (Poland)Cohort from the Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Poznan, Poland, years not available retrospective1854–9Oral glucose tolerance test between 24th and 28th week of gestationBMI 85th–95th percentiled
BMI > 95th percentiled
3/34 (8.8)
9/34 (26.5)
8/108 (7.4)
17/108 (15.7)
No

BMI classification reference: aWHO International Classification, bCDC growth charts, cInternational Obesity Task Force, and dOther.