Primal Health Databank: Study

Entry No:1096
Title:The impact of cesarean section on offspring overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Author(s):Li HT, Zhou YB, Liu JM
Reference:Int J Obes (Lond). 2013 Jul;37(7):893-9. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2012.195. Epub 2012 Dec 4.
Place of Study:China
Abstract:This is a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether cesarean section increases the risk of later overweight and obesity. Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science were searched using different combinations of two groups of keywords: 'cesarean' and 'overweight/obesity'. Cohort or case-control studies that reported the association of cesarean section with childhood (3-8 years), adolescence (9-18 years) and/or adult (>19 years) overweight/obesity were eligible. Where possible, adjusted risk estimates were pooled using a random effects model; otherwise unadjusted estimates were pooled. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with I(2) statistics; the values of 25%, 50% and 75% were considered to indicate low, medium and high heterogeneity, respectively. The authors conducted a subgroup analysis to identify the sources of heterogeneity according to study quality defined on the basis of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. In total, two case-control and seven cohort studies were identified for the literature review and 15 separate risk estimates were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled odds ratio (OR) of overweight/obesity for offspring delivered by cesarean section compared with those born vaginally was 1.33 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19, 1.48; I(2)=63%); the OR was 1.32 (1.15, 1.51) for children, 1.24 (1.00, 1.54) for adolescents and 1.50 (1.02, 2.20) for adults. In subgroup analysis, the overall pooled OR was 1.18 (1.09, 1.27; I(2)=29%) for high-quality studies and 1.78 (1.43, 2.22; I(2)=24%) for medium-quality (P for interaction=0.0005); no low-quality studies were identified. The ORs for children, adolescents and adults all tended to be lower for high-quality studies compared with medium-quality studies. The results indicated that cesarean section was moderately associated with offspring overweight and obesity.
Keyword(s):caesarean, cesarean, obesity, obesity in chilhood, Overweight
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