Mechanistic Pathways of Gestational Obesity: Implications for Maternal and Offspring Health: A Narrative Review

Gestational obesity, defined as obesity during pregnancy or a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥30, is a growing global health challenge with profound implications for both maternal and offspring health. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the mechanistic pathways by which maternal obesity affects pregnancy outcomes and intergenerational health trajectories. For mothers, gestational obesity increases the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, cesarean delivery, and postpartum weight retention. Offspring exposed to maternal obesity face higher risks of obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders, many of which persist across the lifespan. The underlying mechanisms include metabolic dysregulation, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and alterations in placental function. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone changes, and non-coding RNA expression, play central roles in fetal programming, while maternal gut dysbiosis and alterations in breast milk microbiota further shape infant health outcomes. Importantly, maternal obesity not only influences pregnancy and early life but also perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of obesity and related comorbidities. Preventive strategies targeting preconception and prenatal health, combined with interventions to optimize lactation and maternal diet, may mitigate long-term risks. Future research should prioritize longitudinal and mechanistic studies to refine interventions aimed at disrupting the transmission of obesity-related disease across generations.