Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27239935›Full record

ArticlePaediatric and perinatal epidemiology2016

Maternal Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Autism Spectrum Disorder among Offspring: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Kelly D Getz, Marlene T Anderka, Martha M Werler, Susan S Jick

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
6.7field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

43 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 71 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and child neurodevelopmental outcomes: a meta-analysis.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2018
    Pooled it
  4. Article
  5. A Review of the Effects of Maternal and Paternal Obesity on Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Related Neurobiology in Rodent and Human Offspring.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2026
    Review
  6. Child Autism Spectrum Disorder Following Maternal Abuse and Trauma History.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026
    Article
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  13. Review
  14. Review
  15. Prenatal Diabetes and Obesity: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring - A Comprehensive Review.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2024
    Review
  16. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Kelly D GetzBoston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Marlene T AnderkaMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Martha M WerlerBoston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Susan S JickBoston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Boston University · USMassachusetts Department of Public Health · US

Funding

BURPPE:BU Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology Training ProgramT32HD052458 · NICHD · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · PI WERLER, MARTHA M. · 2007 to 2016
$2.0M
NICHD NIH HHS T32 HD052458
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious studies have attributed high maternal weight gain during pregnancy and pre-pregnancy obesity to a higher risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Maternal underweight was not previously explored with respect to ASD risk.

methodsWe evaluated the association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and ASD occurrence among singletons born into the General Practice Research Database from 1993 to 2008. Case subjects were children with a diagnosis of ASD from birth to 2010. Up to four control subjects were matched to each case subject on birth year, sex, and general practice. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess the non-linearity of the association between maternal BMI and ASD. All study subjects were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on maternal pre-pregnancy BMI using the WHO Classification Standard. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate unadjusted and multivariable adjusted odds ratios for the association between categorical BMI (reference=normal weight) and the occurrence of ASD.

resultsThe association between maternal BMI and ASD occurrence was non-linear and J-shaped. The adjusted ORs for maternal underweight and obesity were 1.43 (95% CI 1.01, 2.04) and 1.54 (95% CI 1.26, 1.89) respectively.

conclusionsResults suggest that extremes in maternal BMI may be associated with modest increases in the risk for ASD among offspring.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexAdultAutism Spectrum DisorderCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultAutism spectrum disordermaternal BMImaternal obesitymaternal underweight

Identifiers

PMID27239935
PMCPMC5849232
OpenAlexW2399599199

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.