Maternal smoking during pregnancy and appetite control in offspring

Aims: Intrauterine exposure to tobacco smoke products has been
associated with long-term neurobehavioral effects. Modified
appetite control might explain the recently observed association
between maternal smoking during pregnancy and obesity in offspring.
Methods: Some 10,557 British adults aged 42 years born between 3-9
March 1958 were followed up in a birth cohort study (NCDS). The
main outcome measure was self-reported poor appetite at age 42
years and main exposure was maternal smoking during pregnancy.
Results: The proportion of offspring with poor appetite increased
with maternal smoking during pregnancy: nonsmoking 4.5%; (4.0% -
5.0%), medium smoking 5.6%; (4.5 % - 6.8 %), variable smoking 6.8
%; (4.9 % - 9.1 %) and heavy smoking 7.7 %; (6.3 % - 9.4 %). The
unadjusted odds ratios for maternal smoking during pregnancy
(ever/never) and poor appetite is 1.49 (1.25 - 1.77) and after
adjustment for BMI at 42 years and other potential confounding
factors it is 1.22 (1.07 - 1.48). Conclusions: Offspring of mothers
who smoked during pregnancy were more likely to report a poor
appetite independent of a number of potential confounding factors.
Although not in the expected direction, the results suggest
maternal smoking during pregnancy may influence appetite perception
through a developmental influence or through confounding by social
factors.