Association of Maternal Prepregnancy Weight and Gestational Weight Gain With Children’s Allergic Diseases

Key Points Question Are maternal prepregnancy weight and gestational weight gain associated with childhood allergies? Findings In this cross-sectional study evaluating 8877 children, excessive gestational weight gain was associated with a risk of asthma and/or wheezing, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and food and/or drug allergy, and this risk appeared to be higher when coexisting with maternal prepregnancy overweight or obesity. Low gestational weight gain was associated with a reduced risk of allergies in children of women with low or normal prepregnancy weight, while there was no association in women who were overweight or obese. Meaning The findings of this study suggest that, to meet the challenge of increasing childhood allergies, the management of prepregnancy weight and gestational weight gain must be considered.