Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and epilepsy in the offspring: A population-based cohort study | Synapse
March 3, 2026Open Access
Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and epilepsy in the offspring: A population-based cohort study
Key Points
Childhood epilepsy shows a modest association with maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, indicating potential risk factors.
Association analysis reports a clear link between higher body mass index before pregnancy and increased epilepsy risk in offspring.
Population-based cohort study examining maternal BMI and gestational weight gain in California reveals mixed results on weight gain patterns.
Findings support the need for further exploration of how maternal weight status may influence epilepsy development in children.
Abstract
While maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity were modestly associated with childhood epilepsy in California, no clear pattern emerged for maternal non-optimal gestational weight gain.