Effects of paternal obesity on maternal-neonatal outcomes and long-term prognosis in adolescents

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study evaluated whether paternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy was a risk factor for maternal-neonatal outcomes and long-term prognosis in offspring.MethodsThis study included 29,518 participants from eight cities in Fujian, China using a stratified cluster random sampling method from May to September 2019. They were divided into four groups based on paternal BMI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between paternal BMI groups, maternal-neonatal outcomes, and long-term prognosis in offspring. Further subgroup analysis was conducted to examine the stability of the risk. ResultsThe incidences of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP), cesarean delivery, gestational weight gain (GWG) over guideline, and macrosomia were significantly higher in the paternal overweight and obesity group. Importantly, this study demonstrated that the incidence of asthma, hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), anemia, dental caries, and obesity of adolescents in paternal obesity increased. Furthermore, logistic regression and subgroup analysis confirm paternal obesity is a risk factor for HDCP, cesarean delivery, and macrosomia. It caused poor long-term prognosis in adolescents, including asthma, dental caries, and HFMD.ConclusionsPaternal obesity is a risk factor for adverse maternal-neonatal outcomes and poor long-term prognosis in adolescents. In addition to focusing on maternal weight, expectant fathers should pay more attention to weight management since BMI is a modifiable risk factor. Preventing paternal obesity can lead to better maternal and child outcomes. It would provide new opportunities for chronic diseases.

Decrease in Sperm Parameters in the 21st Century: Obesity, Lifestyle, or Environmental Factors? An Updated Narrative Review

“…A study by Lin and colleagues performed in China on about 30,000 males investigated the correlation between the paternal body mass index (BMI) at the time of pregnancy and neonatal outcomes and long-term prognosis in offspring. The authors found a raised percentage of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, caesarean delivery, and gestational weight gain, as well as obesity, in those adolescents born from obese or overweight males at the time of pregnancy [106]. An investigation performed by Soubry and coworkers revealed an alteration in methylation function; in particular, a reduction in methylation of MEST, PEG3, and NNAT genes was observed in those babies conceived from obese males compared with babies born to nonobese parents [104].…”

“…The worldwide incidence of obesity has increased significantly since 1975, and several studies have shown that overweight and obesity can cause male infertility [103][104][105][106][107][108][109]. Indeed, overweight and obesity is one of the major contributory factors associated with the reduction in sperm number and low total sperm concentration, frequently observed in obese or overweight males [107][108][109].…”

“…Furthermore, obesity leads to neuroendocrine dysfunction due to leptin release impacting kisspeptin neurons, which in turn interact directly with LH and GnRH receptors [111]. Alarmingly, studies have found that paternal obesity is positively associated with increased body fat in prepubertal offspring [106] and effects upon the methylation function of specific loci of imprinting genes in offspring [18]. A study by Lin and colleagues performed in China on about 30,000 males investigated the correlation between the paternal body mass index (BMI) at the time of pregnancy and neonatal outcomes and long-term prognosis in offspring.…”

“…The authors reported a significant association between metabolic syndrome, especially blood pressure, serum glucose, and waist circumference, and a diminished percentage of normal sperm morphology and reduced motility. Furthermore, both human and animal studies have reported the correlation between male obesity and reduced sperm parameters [105][106][107][108][109]. Studies have shown that abnormal semen parameters can be ascribed to overweight and obesity, such as reduced sperm number, progressive motility, and elevated abnormal sperm morphology [109,112].…”

Developmentally programmed obesity: Is there a role for anti‐inflammatory nutritional strategies?

“…Another recent study examined the impact of paternal BMI on maternal and offspring outcomes in a large Chinese cohort. They demonstrated that there were increases in maternal complications such as gestational weight gain, hypertension and C‐section when fathers were overweight or obese (Lin et al., 2023 ). There was also evidence that by adolescence, offspring were at increased risk for obesity and asthma.…”