Neurodevelopmental Pathways from Maternal Obesity to Offspring Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences Across Development

Relatively higher-quality human studies compared with other topics in this database, e.g. multiple RCTs or systematic reviews. This does not mean it is standard or approved care.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background : Maternal obesity affects 20-25% of pregnancies globally and has been associated with adverse offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes. This umbrella review synthesized evidence on neurodevelopmental pathways linking maternal obesity to offspring cognitive, executive, and behavioral outcomes. Methods : Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched six databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL) for studies published 2008-2024. We included original peer-reviewed studies examining maternal pre-pregnancy obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes using prospective cohort, experimental, neuroimaging, or systematic review designs with validated assessments. Risk of bias was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, Cochrane RoB 2.0, and SYRCLE guidelines. Results : Analysis of 78 studies encompassing 650,000+ mother-child pairs from 17 countries revealed significant associations. Study designs included prospective cohorts (59%), animal experiments (22%), systematic reviews/meta-analyses (13%), neuroimaging studies (4%), and randomized trials (3%). Maternal obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) was associated with reduced cognitive abilities (IQ differences: -2.5 to -5.8 points), impaired executive function (OR 1.4-2.3), and increased ADHD symptoms (OR 1.4-2.8) and emotional dysregulation (OR 1.5-2.2). Dose-response

Evidence level

Relatively higher-quality human studies compared with other topics in this database, e.g. multiple RCTs or systematic reviews. This does not mean it is standard or approved care.

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