Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Executive Functioning Behaviors in Preschool Children

Bernard F. Fuemmeler, Nancy Zucker, Yaou Sheng, Carmen E. Sanchez, Rachel Maguire, Susan K. Murphy, Scott H. Kollins and Cathrine Hoyo
Additional contact information
Bernard F. Fuemmeler: Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Nancy Zucker: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
Yaou Sheng: Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Carmen E. Sanchez: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
Rachel Maguire: Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Susan K. Murphy: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
Scott H. Kollins: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
Cathrine Hoyo: Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: This study examines pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) in relation to early childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and related executive self-regulation behaviors. The analyses sample ( n = 331) included a subsample of participants from a birth cohort recruited from prenatal clinics and hospital facilities from April 2005 to June 2011 in Durham, North Carolina. Pre-pregnancy BMI was calculated from weight at the last menstrual period and height was extracted from medical records. Gestational weight gain was calculated from pre-pregnancy weight and weight measured at the time of delivery. ADHD symptoms and executive self-regulation behaviors were assessed by maternal report (mean age = 3 years). Multivariable regression methods with inverse probability weighting (IPW) were used to evaluate associations accounting for sample selection bias and confounding. Pre-pregnancy BMI at levels ≥35 was positively associated with higher ADHD symptoms and worse executive self-regulation behaviors (inhibitory control and attention). Compared to adequate GWG, less than adequate GWG was related to more ADHD hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, whereas greater than adequate GWG was related to more problematic behaviors related to working memory and planning. The findings support a link between maternal weight and child neurodevelopment. Continued research that help identify biological mechanisms are needed.

Keywords: pregnancy; gestational weight gain; maternal obesity; child development; ADHD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:4:p:667-:d:208780

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