Pre‐pregnancy maternal obesity and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes in Latino infants

Abstract Objective This study explores the impact of maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI on infant neurodevelopment at 24 months in low‐income Latino families. It also investigates whether infant diet mediates this relationship. Methods Latino mother‐infant pairs ( n = 163) were enrolled at 1 month post partum and were followed for 2 years, with assessments at 6‐month intervals. Maternal pre‐pregnancy anthropometrics were self‐reported at baseline, and child neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Diet quality of infants was measured using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)‐2015 and HEI‐Toddlers‐2020 scores at multiple time points. Mediation and regression models that adjust for maternal factors were used to examine the associations. Results Pre‐pregnancy BMI showed significant negative associations with child cognitive scores (β = −0.1, 95% CI: −0.2 to −0.06, p < 0.001) and language scores (β = −0.1, 95% CI: −0.2 to −0.03, p = 0.01) at 24 months. Infant HEI‐2015 scores at 24 months partly mediated these associations, explaining 23% and 30% of the total effect on cognitive and language subscales, respectively. No specific dietary components in infants mediated the relationship, except for the total HEI‐2015 score. Conclusions Managing maternal obesity pre‐pregnancy is crucial for improving infant neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially in low‐income Latino families. Promoting healthy weight and enhancing infant diet quality can enhance neurodevelopment in these populations.