Central Adiposity, Rather Than in Utero Exposure to Maternal Obesity or Gestational Diabetes, Predicts Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Children Aged 4–10 Years
Authors' conclusion
Central adiposity-indexed by WC or WHtR-rather than in utero exposure, is the primary driver of cardiometabolic risk. Associations between cMetS and cardiometabolic biomarkers underscore insulin resistance and adipose tissue dysfunction as key mechanisms underlying MetS in children.
Study context
- Population
- Children grouped by maternal early-pregnancy weight status and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis (normal weight without GDM; overweight/obesity without GDM; overweight/obesity with GDM)
- Exposure
- In utero exposure to maternal overweight/obesity with or without GDM vs maternal normal weight without GDM; Waist circumference (WC) ≥85th vs <85th percentile; Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ≥0.5 vs <0.5
- Outcome
- Continuous metabolic syndrome (MetS) (cMetS) score by central adiposity
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Significantly higher continuous MetS (cMetS) scores with WC ≥85th percentile or WHtR ≥0.5, even with WC excluded from cMetS
- p < 0.0001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Correlation of cMetS with cardiometabolic biomarkers
- cMetS inversely correlated with adiponectin and positively correlated with leptin, leptin-to-adiponectin ratio, HOMA-IR, CRP and IL-6
- all p < 0.01
Original publication
Central Adiposity, Rather Than in Utero Exposure to Maternal Obesity or Gestational Diabetes, Predicts Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Children Aged 4–10 Years. Pediatr Obes. Published 10 December 2025. doi:10.
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