Childhood obesity has emerged as a major global public health concern. Recent reports indicate that the worldwide obesity rate among children and adolescents has climbed to 8.5%. Obesity-related conditions present serious health risks. The causes of childhood obesity are multifactorial, with growing attention from researchers on the link between maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and an elevated risk of obesity in offspring. This association can have lasting effects throughout childhood. Consequently, understanding the causes of childhood obesity and implementing effective preventive and therapeutic measures are crucial for managing and mitigating the condition and its associated health complications. This study aims to thoroughly explore the relationship between maternal GDM and the heightened risk of childhood obesity, examining developmental stages, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and contributing factors. By developing and applying targeted management strategies during a child's growth and development, the objective is to effectively curb and improve obesity outcomes among children born to mothers with GDM.
Chen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.