A significant retrospective cohort study has revealed that even mild levels of glucose intolerance during pregnancy are associated with a higher risk of obesity in children as they reach adolescence. The research, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism , suggests that the in utero environment may play a more critical role in long-term metabolic health than previously understood.
The study, “ Gestational Glucose Intolerance and Risk of Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence ,” led by researchers from the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, analyzed a data set of 27,876 children and adolescents. The team investigated the impact of varying degrees of maternal glycemia — ranging from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to gestational glucose intolerance (GGI) and full gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
While the prevalence of obesity was 13.5% among two-to-five-year-olds, it climbed to 23.4% in the 11-to-18-year-old demographic.
Endocrine News published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 04 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Maternal Blood Sugar Levels Linked to Heightened Obesity Risk in Adolescents.
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