Gestational Diabetes and Childhood Obesity: A Review
Author Information
Author(s): Kim Shin Y., England J., Lucinda Sharma J., Andrea Njoroge Terry
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
Is there an association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and childhood overweight and obesity?
Conclusion
The review found inconsistent evidence of an association between GDM and childhood overweight and obesity due to methodological limitations in existing studies.
Supporting Evidence
- 12 studies were included in the systematic review.
- Crude odds ratios for the relationship between GDM and childhood obesity ranged from 0.7 to 6.3.
- 8 out of 12 studies did not find statistically significant associations.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether mothers with diabetes during pregnancy have kids who are more likely to be overweight. The results were mixed and not very clear.
Methodology
The authors systematically reviewed studies examining the association between GDM and childhood obesity, focusing on studies published from 1990 to 2011.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to exclusion of unpublished studies and variability in study methodologies.
Limitations
Many studies had design limitations, including combining pregestational and gestational diabetes and lack of control groups.
Participant Demographics
Studies included participants from the United States, Germany, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Finland, and Poland.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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