Logo image
Back
Effect of the broad autism phenotype on physical activity and weight gain in pregnancy
Thesis

Effect of the broad autism phenotype on physical activity and weight gain in pregnancy

Jessica Bauer
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Drexel University
May 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3955
pdf
Bauer_Jessica_20121.79 MB
PDF Project Access upon request, Email title, URL, or DOI to archives@drexel.edu
pdf
Bauer_Jessica_2012_Suppl13.46 MB
PDF (supplemental) Poster Access upon request, Email title, URL, or DOI to archives@drexel.edu

Abstract

Broad Autism Phenotype Physical Activity Weight gain Autism Pregnancy Public Health
Objectives: This study aims to provide insight on the potential role ASD-related genetic liability might have in confounding associations between prenatal maternal lifestyle variables and autism risk in subsequent Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) analyses. In addition to examining parental broad autism phenotype as a confounder of risk factor associations, the questions of whether and how the broad autism phenotype influences behaviors related to healthy lifestyle is of interest and has been underexplored in the literature. Methods: EARLI is a prospective study examining genetic susceptibility and environmental risk factors for autism by following pregnant women who have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder throughout their pregnancy and the new babies through age three. Several biological samples and surveys are collected, including the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), health behaviors pregnancy questionnaire, maternal interview, and maternal interview update, which were used to determine if there was an association between the maternal broad autism phenotype and lifestyle-related variables during pregnancy. Results: Adjusted analyses, though not statistically significant, showed that both weight gain and physical activity were positively associated with SRS. However, the association between SRS and weight gain varied by BMI class, with normal weight and overweight women gaining less weight and obese women gaining more weight as SRS scores increased. In addition, there were significant differences for weight gain and SRS when stratified by BMI and pregnancy complications as well as for physical activity and SRS when stratified by pregnancy complications. Analyses also demonstrated a possible interaction between pregnancy complications and physical activity and weight gain. Conclusions: There was little evidence of a strong association between the maternal broad autism phenotype and physical activity or weight gain during pregnancy. This means that genetic liability is probably not a confounder of the association between lifestyle and autism risk in the EARLI study.

Metrics

4 File views/ downloads
26 Record Views

Details

Logo image