Maternal Obesity as a Determinant of Long-Term Offspring Health: Insights From Metabolic, Cardiovascular, and Neurodevelopmental Perspectives

Introduction and Objective: The prevalence of maternal overweight and obesity has increased dramatically worldwide, posing significant risks for offspring health. Maternal obesity has been associated with multisystemic consequences, including metabolic, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, renal, and immune disturbances. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the impact of maternal obesity on offspring health and to identify potential mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published up to 2026. Both human epidemiological studies and experimental animal models were included to evaluate the effects of maternal obesity on offspring outcomes. Keywords included “maternal obesity”, “offspring health”, “developmental programming”, “metabolic disorders”, “neurodevelopment”, and “immunology”. Relevant studies were critically assessed, with particular focus on mechanisms, sex-specific effects, and long-term consequences. Results / Methodology: Evidence indicates that maternal obesity programs offspring health through multiple pathways, including altered metabolism, epigenetic modifications, inflammatory processes, and microbiome-mediated effects. Offspring of obese mothers exhibit higher risk of hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, impaired renal development, neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, and immune dysregulation. These effects are often sex-specific and may persist throughout childhood and adulthood. Both preconception and gestational interventions, including weight management and lifestyle optimization, can partially mitigate these risks. Conclusion: Maternal obesity is a major determinant of long-term multisystem health outcomes in offspring. Understanding the mechanisms of developmental programming is essential for developing preventive strategies, emphasizing the importance of maternal health optimization before and during pregnancy.