Maternal obesity and its long-term sequelae to the offspring

With the continuous rise in the rate of obesity in reproductive age women, there is an increasing academic interest in the long-term complications to the offspring. Just as malnutrition during pregnancy has been shown to have risks for the child, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, insulin resistance and coronary heart disease [1], the same risks can be seen in obesity during pregnancy [2,3]. This chapter summarizes the current research into the long-term com plications for the offspring of pregnant obese mothers, specifically metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, asthma, learning disabilities and cardiovascular disease. Keeping these risks in mind, clinicians can more effectively educate women interested in family planning, prepare them for future complications, and advocate for better lifestyle and treatment options.