Children are at increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities if their mothers are both obese and have diabetes, according to a study involving more than 2,700 youths.

Participants, 102 of whom had ASD, had at least 1 postnatal study visit. Risks of developmental disorder were categorized according to maternal prepregnancy obesity and diabetes status.

Among the results:

• Maternal prepregnancy obesity and pregestational diabetes (PGDM) were each linked with risk of ASD when researchers analyzed them individually.

• However, when looked at together, only mothers with obesity and PGDM and those with obesity and gestational diabetes were at significantly higher risk of having children with ASD. The first group was nearly 4 times as likely, whereas the second was more than 3 times so.

• Intellectual disabilities produced a similar link with obesity and PGDM combined; the risk pattern occurred mostly in those with both ASD and intellectual disabilities.

Citation: Li M, Fallin M, Riley A, et al. The association of maternal obesity and diabetes with autism and other developmental disabilities. Pediatrics. 2016;137(2):1-10. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-2206.