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Can smoking during pregnancy influence a child鈥檚 risk of obesity later in life? A new study led by a Washington State University (WSU) researcher suggests it might.

More than 89% of children in the study showed a typical body mass index pattern鈥攄eclining between ages 1 and 6, then gradually rising. But 11% had no early BMI dip. Instead, their weight increased rapidly starting around age 3.5.

鈥淭he most distinct finding is that we can identify children on a path to obesity as early as age 3.5 years,鈥� Chang Liu, an assistant professor of psychology at WSU and the corresponding author of the new paper, said. 鈥淏y age 9, children in this group reached an average BMI above the 99th percentile.鈥�

Researchers found these children were more likely to have mothers who smoked during pregnancy or had a high pre-pregnancy BMI.

Smoking during pregnancy can have impact on child development

Previous studies have linked both factors to long-term effects on appetite, metabolism, and fat storage.

“While the study does not identify a causal explanation, there are indications from past research that prenatal smoking and maternal obesity can alter fetal metabolism and body fat development, potentially programming a child鈥檚 metabolic system in ways that persist after birth and may affect appetite, metabolism and fat storage throughout life,” the release said.

Liu led a team of scientists that included nearly 40 researchers from institutions across the country, including Harvard, The Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Washington, according to a .

Researchers used data collected between January 1997 and June 2024 from the national research program Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO), the release said.

鈥淔or society, childhood obesity has enormous costs鈥攂oth in terms of children鈥檚 immediate health and well-being, and the long-term healthcare burden as these children become adults with higher risks of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淚f we can identify at-risk children by age 3.5 and intervene effectively, we could prevent a significant portion of childhood obesity and its lifelong consequences.鈥�

Around one-fifth of American children are obese

About one-fifth of American children are obese, according to the release.

鈥淲e need more research to further understand these biological mechanisms and how they interact with genetic factors and postnatal environment to determine a child鈥檚 growth trajectory,鈥� Liu said.

The study was published last month in .

Frank Lenzi is the News Director for 成人X站 Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.