Impact of Maternal Prenatal Smoking on the Development of Childhood Overweight in School Ages

Childhood overweight (31.7% in 2008) and obesity (16.9% in 2008) has tripled in the U.S. over the past three decades to reach epidemic proportion. This study examined the long-term associations between maternal prenatal smoking and overweight among school-age children using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCY). Childhood overweight was defined according to Body Mass Index (BMI) of 85th percentile or above. Mother's smoking patterns were assessed with a question on smoking behavior one year before the birth of the target child: never or ever smoking. Standardized procedures were used to measure height and weight for calculating the child's BMI. Descriptive statistics (proportions, mean, and standard deviation) and generalized estimation equation (GEE) were used for analysis. Children of mothers who were ever smokers one year before the birth were more likely to be overweight, and on average, to have higher BMI percentiles. GEE results showed that children of mothers who were ever smokers one year before the birth were more likely to have overweight (odds ratio (OR)=1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.95) and higher BMI percentiles from grades one through six than those of mothers who were never smokers. The confirmed relationship between maternal prenatal smoking and overweight among school-age children has important implications for public health policy because this evidence can be used to enhance smoking cessation one year before the birth to improve the health status of mothers and offspring.