Erforschung von Risikofaktoren für ungünstiges Essverhalten in der Schwangerschaft und die Auswirkung des ungünstigen Essverhaltens auf die Gewichtsentwicklung des Kindes

ABSTRACT In study one the present dissertation was able to provide a well-founded overview of prenatal risk factors for childhood overweight and obesity and to highlight a research gap regarding restrictive eating behaviour in pregnancy and overweight and obesity in offspring. Study two has gained insights into psychological risk factors for inappropriate eating and weight control behaviours in pregnancy. It could be shown that thin idealization in today's society also affects expectant mothers and is associated with inappropriate eating and weight control behaviours. Likewise pregnancy related stressors were also linked to inappropriate eating and weight control behaviours. These behaviours could affect the health status of the offspring. Therefore counselling for pregnant women regarding inappropriate eating and weight control behaviours could be desirable. The prospective longitudinal study addressed the research gap which was found in study one, investigating restrictive eating and eating habits in pregnancy which were associated to overeating in pregnancy on the weight development and the risk of overweight and obesity in offspring. The outcomes of animal models assuming over- and undernutrition in pregnancy to be related to overweight and obesity in offspring could not be entirely transferable to humans in the present study. Restrictive eating behaviour in pregnancy was not associated to the risk of overweight and obesity in offspring. However eating habits in pregnancy which were associated to overeating were linked to a higher risk for the offspring of developing overweight at the age of six months. Already overweight at the age of six months is a predictor for overweight in childhood. Psychoeducation early in pregnancy regarding healthy eating behaviour as a preventive strategy for overweight in offspring could be conceivable.