Obesity and Diabetes in Pregnancy Tied to ADHD Risk

Author: The Endocrine Society
Published: 9 Sep 2022 - Updated: 16 Jul 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Research, Study, Analysis

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This research reports that children born to women with both gestational diabetes and obesity may be twice as likely to develop attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), based on a study of 1,036 children led by Verónica Perea, M.D., Ph.D., of the Hospital Universitari Mutua Terrassa in Barcelona, Spain. Thirteen percent of the children in the study were diagnosed with ADHD, and the raised risk appeared only when mothers had obesity, gestational diabetes, and excessive weight gain during pregnancy - not when weight gain stayed within the normal range. These findings matter to expectant mothers, families, and clinicians who provide prenatal care, since roughly 30 percent of women have obesity at their first pregnancy visit, rising to 47 percent among those with gestational diabetes. Published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the work is authoritative because it draws on a sizable patient cohort and isolates weight gain as a modifiable factor, pointing to the practical value of counseling patients on healthy weight gain as a way to help protect a child's long-term mental health.*

At a Glance

• 1 - About 6 million children aged 3 to 17 years have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, based on 2016 to 2019 data.
• 2 - No higher ADHD risk was seen when women with obesity and gestational diabetes gained a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.
• 3 - The study was funded by the Fundació Docència i Recerca Mútua Terrassa and involved researchers from hospitals in Barcelona, Spain, including the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

Topic Definition

Gestational Diabetes and Maternal Obesity

Gestational diabetes and maternal obesity describe two related conditions during pregnancy that can affect both mother and child. Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar that develops or is first recognized during pregnancy, while maternal obesity refers to carrying excess body weight, often measured by body mass index, before or during that pregnancy. When these conditions occur together, and especially when accompanied by excessive weight gain, they are associated with a greater chance of complications for the mother and longer-term health effects for the child, including neurodevelopmental outcomes such as ADHD. Because weight gain during pregnancy can be monitored and managed, health professionals treat it as an important and adjustable part of prenatal care.

Overview

Children of women with gestational diabetes and obesity may be twice as likely to develop attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to those whose mothers did not have obesity, according to new research published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The estimated number of children aged 3-17 years ever diagnosed with ADHD is 6 million, according to data from 2016-2019. A major risk factor for ADHD in children is maternal obesity. Roughly 30% of women have obesity at their first doctor's visit during pregnancy, increasing to 47% in women with gestational diabetes. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy in this population is a risk factor for children developing ADHD.

"Our study found pregnant women with obesity and gestational diabetes had children with long-term mental health disorders such as ADHD," said Verónica Perea, M.D., Ph.D., of the Hospital Universitari Mutua Terrassa in Barcelona, Spain. "We did not find this association when these women gained a healthy weight during pregnancy."

The researchers studied 1,036 children born to women with gestational diabetes. Thirteen percent of these children were diagnosed with ADHD. The researchers found that children of women with gestational diabetes and obesity were twice as likely to have ADHD as those born to mothers without obesity.

The researchers only found this association in women with gestational diabetes, obesity, and excessive weight gain during pregnancy. The researchers did not observe a higher risk of ADHD in children of women with gestational diabetes and obesity if the weight these women gained during pregnancy was within the normal range.

"It's important for clinicians to counsel their patients on the importance of healthy weight gain during pregnancy," Perea said.

Authors

Other authors of this study include Andreu Simó-Servat, Carmen Quirós, Nuria Alonso-Carril, Maite Valverde, Maria-José Barahona, Xavier Urquizu, Eva López and Maria-José Barahona of the Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa; and Antonio J. Amor of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain.

The study received funding from the Fundació Docència i Recerca Mútua Terrassa. The manuscript, "Role of Excessive Weight Gain During Gestation in the Risk of ADHD in Offspring of Women with Gestational Diabetes,".

Related Information

• Fatter Women Have Fatter Babies
• Weight Gain Level for Heavier Pregnant Women
• Women Spending Longer in Labor Now Than 50 Years Ago
• Women with Diabetes Having More C-sections and Fetal Complications
• Pregnancy Information

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a type of high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in women who did not previously have diabetes, and it usually requires monitoring of diet, weight, and blood sugar levels.

How much weight should a woman gain during pregnancy?

Recommended weight gain varies by a person's starting weight and health, so pregnant women should ask their doctor or midwife for individual guidance rather than following a single fixed number.

Can ADHD risk in children be reduced during pregnancy?

This research suggests that healthy weight gain during pregnancy was linked to no added ADHD risk in the studied group, which is why clinicians encourage careful weight management for at-risk mothers.

What are common symptoms of ADHD in children?

Children with ADHD often show persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that appear across multiple settings and are beyond what is typical for their age.

Does maternal obesity alone cause ADHD?

The study found the doubled risk was tied to the combination of obesity, gestational diabetes, and excessive weight gain, rather than obesity acting alone as a single cause.

How is ADHD diagnosed in children?

ADHD is typically diagnosed by a qualified health professional who reviews behavior across home and school settings, developmental history, and standardized assessments over time.

Why does maternal blood sugar affect a developing baby?

High blood sugar and metabolic changes during pregnancy can influence the environment in which a baby develops, which researchers believe may affect brain development and later health outcomes.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What makes this study useful for everyday care is that it points to something a person can act on rather than a fixed risk. Maternal obesity is already recognized as a major risk factor for ADHD in children, yet the researchers found the doubled risk was tied specifically to excessive weight gain during pregnancy, meaning that steady, healthy weight gain appeared to remove the added association altogether. For clinicians, midwives, and dietitians, this reinforces the case for open and supportive conversations about weight management early in pregnancy, particularly for the large share of patients who arrive with obesity or develop gestational diabetes. For families, it offers a hopeful and concrete message: attention to weight gain during these months is a meaningful step that may benefit a child's neurodevelopment for years to come.*

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by The Endocrine Society and published on 9 Sep 2022, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.