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BACKGROUND: Early formula supplementation (EFS, formula on birthdate or day after) is associated with maternal obesity and reduced breastfeeding, but the effect of prenatal breastfeeding intention on these relationships is understudied. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated how EFS affected breastfeeding outcomes after controlling for obesity, sociodemographic and health factors. METHODS: Multivariable regression modeling, stratified by prenatal breastfeeding intention. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that EFS may be less disruptive to breastfeeding in mothers with strong intention to meet breastfeeding recommendations, regardless of maternal BMI.

Background: Cognitive impairment and attention deficit disorder have been on the rise among generations in recent times. A significant portion of the brain involved in learning and cognition is the hippocampus. Its development begins in utero till weaning. The mother's body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy indicates her health; however, little data links maternal BMI before pregnancy to fetal hippocampal health outcomes. Aim: The study aimed to estimate the extent to which pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) relates to their offspring brain status, and thus to what extent to this stage of life may be an opportunity for mental and cognitive development. Methods: Thirty-six naive female albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) at 8 weeks of age with average weight 190-220g body weight were obtained and assigned to three experimental groups according to their body mass index into; under-, over- and normal weight. Following one week of habituation, all females were allowed to mate (3 female/ 1 male). On postnatal day1, pups were randomly adjusted to 8/dam with equal gender ratio. On 15 day postpartum, all pups were sacrificed. Hippocampi were removed and processed for histological investigations, GFAP immunohistochemically and flow cytometric assessments of apoptosis. Measurements of cognitive brain were carried out. Results: The present findings manifested elevation in the inflammatory and apoptotic markers in the hippocampus of underweight mothers-offspring yielding a lower cognitive ability than overweight mothers-offspring compared to those whose mothers with normal weight before conception. The male offspring were more affected than female offspring especially those born to pre-pregnancy underweight mothers. Conclusion: The study concluded that there may be a connection between a mother's pre-pregnancy BMI and her offspring's cognitive capacities, which calls for more study to gain a deeper knowledge and to create interventions that target the physical health of the mother prior to pregnancy in order to enhance their offspring's health and cognitive outcomes. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(11.000): 2924-2935]

Background: Early formula supplementation (EFS, formula on birthdate or day after) is associated with maternal obesity and reduced breastfeeding, but the effect of prenatal breastfeeding intention on these relationships is understudied. Objectives: We evaluated how EFS affected breastfeeding outcomes after controlling for obesity, sociodemographic and health factors. Methods: Multivariable regression modeling, stratified by prenatal breastfeeding intention. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that EFS may be less disruptive to breastfeeding in mothers with strong intention to meet breastfeeding recommendations, regardless of maternal BMI.

AbstractThe HIV pandemic in South Africa has tragically left a wake of vertically infected children who have suffered parental loss and social marginalization. Vertically infected HIV-positive children are those who have acquired the virus from their mother during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. In this paper, the development and alienation of the self is explored in a psychoanalytically informed research case study of a black adolescent girl who was vertically infected with HIV and later fostered by a white mother. This case study explores the sociogenic meanings of raced maternal experiences and disease identified in a series of psychoanalytic interviews, using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Drawing from Melanie Klein, Franz Fanon and other feminist and post-colonial psychoanalytic theorists, the early primal raced and diseased scene is considered through internalizations and fixation on the body. Nosipho is first introduced through a short vignette and a discussion of her early maternal relational experiences. The paper then explores the ambivalence experienced by the participant as part of her HIV and raced lived experiences. HIV and raced subjectivities are both powerful internalized conscious as well as unconscious embodied experiences. For Nosipho, it has been a complicated process found in the shared dual mothering experiences between a biological mother who is black and the subsequent white maternal experiences. The interrogation of this embodied dual experiences of having black mothers who are HIV-positive whilst simultaneously having white mothering roles in children who are vertically infected with HIV is a terrain that is infused by deep contradictory and conflicting emotional and affective states around love and hate, joy and despair, fear, and hope, all at once. Consequently, holding both the HIV and the raced subjectivities is deeply painful for black children who are vertically infected with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast milk is a unique and highly beneficial source of nutrition for infants. It contains a wide range of nutrients that are specifically tailored to meet the specific needs of a growing infant. On the other hand, obesity is a major health issue that affects people around the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and child BMI and the role of maternal BMI, which may influence this relationship. This study revealed that a longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of overweight children. Additionally, the research found that children born to overweight or obese women had a higher probability of being overweight or obese themselves. Considering that mothers with a higher pre-pregnancy body weight are more likely to have children with a higher BMI, it is important that they receive information about the advantages of breastfeeding for a minimum of 6 months for both themselves and their children. Additionally, they should be offered ongoing support, to encourage them to start breastfeeding and continue with it beyond this period.

Objective: Globally, one in four pregnant women is classified as overweight or obese, based on their prepregnancy body mass index (BMI). Obese pregnant women are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term cardiovascular disease that occurs earlier in life. This study aimed to assess maternal hemodynamic and vascular parameters at 35-37 weeks' gestation, to understand the alterations that may occur in association with increased maternal BMI and gestational weight gain, and to evaluate obesity-related pregnancy outcomes., Methods: This was a prospective observational study of 11 731 women with a singleton pregnancy attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation at King's College Hospital, London, UK, between December 2021 and June 2024. Women were categorized based on their BMI at 11-13 weeks' gestation, as normal weight (BMI, 18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (BMI, 25.0-29.9 kg/m 2 ) or obese (BMI, ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ). We recorded details regarding maternal demographic characteristics and medical history, used Doppler ultrasound to assess the uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) (as a marker for uteroplacental perfusion) and ophthalmic artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) ratio (as a marker for small vessel peripheral circulation), and measured carotid-to-femoral pulse-wave velocity, augmentation index (as direct and indirect markers of aortic stiffness, respectively), cardiac output, total peripheral resistance (TPR), and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Multivariable analysis was performed to examine the relationship of BMI and gestational weight gain with hemodynamic and vascular measures, adjusting for maternal demographics, medical history, pregnancy characteristics and pregnancy outcomes (including pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus)., Results: Overweight and obese women were more often of black ethnicity, and had higher central systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cardiac output, aortic stiffness and UtA-PI, compared with normal-weight women. There was no significant difference between overweight or obese women and normal-weight women with regard to TPR and ophthalmic artery PSV ratio. On multivariable analysis, increasing BMI at 11-13 weeks and gestational weight gain between 11-13 weeks and 35-37 weeks were independently associated with increases in all cardiovascular indices (including ophthalmic artery PSV ratio), apart from TPR., Conclusions: Women with a high BMI in early pregnancy vs normal-weight women, and those with higher gestational weight gain, had worse maternal hemodynamic and vascular indices at 35-37 weeks' gestation, independent of baseline and pregnancy characteristics. Our findings support the notion that optimization of prepregnancy weight and gestational weight gain may improve maternal hemodynamics and vascular function during pregnancy, and therefore may improve pregnancy outcomes. © 2025 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2025 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: Maternal obesity increases a child's risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. However, little is known about the impact of maternal obesity on fetal brain development., Methods: We prospectively recruited 20 healthy pregnant women across the range of pre-pregnancy or first-trimester body mass index (BMI) and performed fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their healthy singleton fetuses. We examined correlations between early pregnancy maternal BMI and regional brain volume of living fetuses using volumetric MRI analysis., Results: Of 20 fetuses, there were 8 males and 12 females (median gestational age at MRI acquisition was 24.3 weeks, range: 19.7-33.3 weeks, median maternal age was 33.3 years, range: 22.0-37.4 years). There were no significant differences in clinical demographics between overweight (OW, 25≤BMI<30)/obese (OB, BMI≥30 kg/m 2 ) (n=12) and normal BMI (18.5≤BMI<25) (n=8) groups. Fetuses in the OW/OB group had significantly larger left cortical plate (p=0.0003), right cortical plate (p=0.0002), and whole cerebellum (p=0.049) compared to the normal BMI group. In the OW/OB BMI group, cortical plate volume was larger relative to other brain regions after 28 weeks., Conclusions: This pilot study supports the concept that maternal obesity impacts fetal brain volume, detectable via MRI in living fetuses using quantitative analysis., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Introduction: Childhood obesity is associated with maternal obesity, but the link to gestational weight gain (GWG) is not fully elucidated. We examined the relationship between early pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) and GWG on early childhood growth., Material and Methods: Data from 30 197 mother-child pairs from Uppsala County Mother and Child Cohort were divided into 15 groups according to maternal BMI and GWG, based on World Health Organization classification and Institute of Medicine guidelines, respectively. Postnatal growth patterns were analyzed with linear mixed regression models within maternal BMI groups. Odds ratios of overweight and obesity at 4 years of age were assessed with logistic regression analyses. We treated children of mothers with normal weight and adequate GWG as the reference group, and all analyses were adjusted for potential confounders., Results: GWG was associated with infant BMI z-score at birth, independent of potential confounding factors. Independent of GWG, we observed an overall decrease in BMI z-score from 18 months to 5 years in children of mothers who were underweight, while an increase in BMI z-score was seen in children of mothers who were overweight or obese. In children of normal- and overweight mothers, the risk of childhood overweight and obesity was associated with excessive compared to adequate GWG (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.36 for normal-weight mothers, and aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.04-1.51 for overweight mothers, respectively). Children of mothers with obesity and excessive GWG had the highest risk of being overweight or obese at 4 years (aOR 2.88, 95% CI 2.40-3.44, and 4.38, 95% CI 3.37-5.67, respectively). Associations did not differ between children of mothers with obesity class 1 and 2-3 when comparing excessive and adequate GWG (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 0.96-1.85, and 1.12, 95% CI 0.74-1.70, respectively)., Conclusions: Maternal GWG affects infant birth size and growth until 18 months, although maternal BMI is more crucial for childhood growth beyond 18 months. Further, children of mothers who are normal- or overweight and experience excessive GWG have an increased risk of obesity at 4 years., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Introduction: The present study was conducted with aim to investigate the expression of the CYFIP1 gene in the umbilical cord blood (UCB) of newborns and its possible relationship with different categories of pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, birth weight and infant status for gestational age.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2020 to 2021 on UCB of 118 male newborns from Mousavi and Bahman hospitals in Zanjan. According to pre-pregnancy BMI, women were divided into three groups: normal, overweight and obese. Each UCB sample was divided into two parts. A part was used to analyze the lipid profile including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). mRNA extraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed to investigate the expression of CYFIP1 gene. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software (version 21) and Pearson's correlation test. P

Background: Maternal body fluids contain abundant cell-free fetal RNAs which have the potential to serve as indicators of fetal development and pathophysiological conditions. In this context, this study aimed to explore the potential diagnostic value of maternal circulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in ventricular septal defect (VSD).Methods: The potential of lncRNAs as non-invasive prenatal biomarkers for VSD was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The biological processes and regulatory network of these lncRNAs were elucidated through bioinformatics analysis.Results: Three lncRNAs (LINC00598, LINC01551, and GATA3-AS1) were found to be consistent in both maternal plasma and amniotic fluid. These lncRNAs exhibited strong diagnostic performance for VSD, with AUC values of 0.852, 0.957, and 0.864, respectively. The bioinformatics analysis revealed the involvement of these lncRNAs in heart morphogenesis, actin cytoskeleton organization, cell cycle regulation, and protein binding through a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network at the post-transcriptional level.Conclusion: The cell-free lncRNAs present in the amniotic fluid have the potential to be released into the maternal circulation, making them promising candidates for investigating epigenetic regulation in VSD.

Context: Breast milk composition is influenced by many factors, ranging from maternal nutritional status to infant sex. Previous studies have explored the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and breast milk composition; however, the findings have been inconsistent and controversial., Objective: To systematically review the evidence on the association of maternal weight and BMI with breast milk composition., Data Sources: The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched up to May 3, 2023, using the following search strategy: ("maternal weight" OR "maternal BMI" OR "mother's weight" OR "mother's BMI") AND ("maternal milk" OR "human milk" OR "breast milk")., Data Extraction: A total of 83 publications, involving data from more than 11 310 lactating women, were identified. All extracted data were compiled, compared, and critically analyzed., Data Analysis: Overall, maternal BMI was associated with higher levels of leptin and insulin, and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast milk. However, no conclusive associations were found between maternal BMI and the levels of energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, and other components of breast milk., Conclusions: This systematic review provides robust evidence supporting a positive correlation between maternal BMI and breast milk concentrations of leptin, insulin, and the omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio. Nevertheless, disparities in findings are noticeable for other constituents of breast milk. To comprehensively grasp the influence of maternal weight and BMI on breast milk composition, further research endeavors are imperative., Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023458667., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To explore associations between maternal body mass index (BMI) in early pregnancy and childhood infections., Design: Birth cohort study linked to primary care records., Setting: Bradford, UK., Participants: Live singleton births within the Born in Bradford cohort study between 2007 and 2011., Exposures: Maternal BMI in early pregnancy., Main Outcome Measures: The total number of infections between birth and ~14 years of age with subgroup analysis by infection type and age., Results: A total of 9037 mothers and 9540 children were included in the main analysis. 45% of women were of Pakistani ethnicity and 6417 women (56%) were overweight or obese. There was an overall trend for an increasing infection rate with increasing maternal BMI. In adjusted models, only those with obesity grade 2-3 had offspring with significantly higher rates of infection during the first year of life (RR 1.12 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.20)) compared with women of healthy weight. However, by age 5 to <15 years, children born to overweight women (RR 1.09 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.16)), obese grade 1 women (RR 1.18 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.28)) or obese grade 2 women (RR 1.31 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.48)) all had significantly higher rates of infection compared with those born to healthy weight mothers. Respiratory tract and skin/soft tissue infections made up the majority of excess infections., Conclusions: Maternal BMI was positively associated with rates of offspring infection in this study cohort, and suggests that we should be supporting women to achieve a healthy weight for pregnancy. Future research should investigate whether this is replicated in other populations, whether there is a causal association and the potential mechanisms and areas for intervention., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Objective:  Maternal body mass index (BMI) and cardiac biomarkers, such as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), have been subjects of interest in obstetric research due to their potential implications for maternal and fetal health. Previous studies have explored the relationship between maternal BMI and various pregnancy outcomes, but the impact on NT-proBNP levels remains unclear. This study aims to investigate whether maternal BMI influences NT-proBNP levels in the third trimester of pregnancy, which could provide insights into maternal cardiovascular health during late gestation., Study Design:  A total of 234 singleton pregnant women in their third trimester (28-40 weeks) were recruited from Antenatal Care Clinic. Exclusion criteria included preexisting cardiac or renal conditions, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and other specific medical conditions. Participants were categorized into BMI groups (< 23, 23-24.9, 25-29.9, and ≥30 kg/m 2 ), and their NT-proBNP levels were measured using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Statistical analyses including Spearman correlation, chi-squared test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and regression analysis were performed to assess the association between maternal BMI and NT-proBNP levels., Results:  The study population exhibited a range of BMI and NT-proBNP levels within normal ranges. No significant correlation was found between maternal age, parity, and NT-proBNP levels. Similarly, no significant association was observed between maternal BMI and NT-proBNP levels across different BMI categories. Trend analyses showed no consistent relationship between BMI and NT-proBNP levels. Multivariate and univariate regression analyses confirmed the lack of significant association between maternal BMI and NT-proBNP levels., Conclusion:  Contrary to expectations, this study found no significant effect of maternal BMI on NT-proBNP levels in the third trimester of pregnancy. These findings suggest that factors other than maternal BMI may predominantly influence NT-proBNP levels during late gestation. Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex interactions between maternal physiology, BMI, and cardiovascular biomarkers during pregnancy., Key Points: · This study aimed to examine the influence of maternal BMI on NT-proBNP.. · No significant correlation between maternal BMI and NT-proBNP levels was found.. · Other factors likely influence NT-proBNP levels, warranting further research.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the associations of body mass index (BMI) change and large for gestational age (LGA) among prepregnancy normal-weight women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)., Methods: The retrospective study including 9515 normal-weight pregnant women (1331 women with GDM and 8184 without GDM) was conducted in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital in 2020. The BMI change was calculated as gestational weight gain in kilograms by maternal height in meters. The binary logistic regression, stratified analyses, restricted cubic spline models and additive interaction analysis were adopted to reveal the relationship between BMI change and LGA., Results: Pregnant women with GDM had a lower level of BMI change but a higher incidence of LGA compared with those without GDM. After adjustment for covariates variables, we found that the risk of LGA was associated with the highest quartile of BMI change (OR = 1.89, 95%CI:1.27-2.8 for GDM and OR = 1.48,95%CI:1.27-1.75 for non-GDM). There were significant linear relationships of BMI change and LGA with the inflection point of 5.096 and 5.401 kg/m 2 in GDM and non-GDM groups. Significant additive interaction was observed between parity and BMI change level concerning LGA. A significant difference in BMI change and gestational weight gain (GWG) for LGA prediction was detected., Conclusion: Higher BMI changes were significantly associated with a higher risk of LGA in pregnant women with or without GDM in a linear dose-response relationship, with the threshold around 5.096 and 5.401 kg/m 2 , respectively. These suggested that BMI changes may be a useful predictor for the incidence of LGA in singleton pregnant women.

Introduction: Donor human milk is increasingly being utilized for both preterm and term infants when mother's milk is unavailable. With the rising prevalence of maternal overweight and obesity, it is crucial to evaluate the relationship between maternal body mass index and the fat and energy content of donor human milk. Objectives: To assess the impact of maternal body mass index on human milk fat content. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using retrospective data from women who made their first human milk donation at ≥15 days postpartum at a human milk bank in São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2018 to December 2020. Data of sociodemographic, obstetric, health, and anthropometric measures were collected by the human milk bank staff. Milk fat and energy content were determined using the crematocrit test. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used to compare means of crematocrit and fat. We determined the p -values using a test of heterogeneity and linear trend and presented the one with the lower p -value. Results: Most donors were between 25 and 35 years old, had higher education, were employed, and lived with a partner. At the time of milk donation, 40.9% of women were overweight or obese. The fat (1.09 g/dL) and energy (9.83 kcal/dL) content of human milk were higher in obese donor compared with eutrophic donors. Conclusions: The fat and energy content of human milk were associated with maternal body mass index, suggesting the potential value for selective use of high fat and high calorie donor milk for very low birthweight or premature infants.

Objective In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods We conducted a cohort study involving 336 singleton pregnant women attending an antenatal care clinic before 14 weeks of gestation. Body composition was measured during their first antenatal visit by using a multi-frequency segmental body composition analyzer. GDM was diagnosed by a 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) and a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during the first visit and repeated during 24-28 weeks of gestation. Rates of GDM were compared between women with BFP ≥30% and those with BFP <30%. The ability of BFP and body mass index (BMI) to diagnose GDM was assessed, as well as their correlation. Results Of the 296 women included in the analysis, 171 had BFP ≥30%, and 125 had BFP <30%. The prevalence of GDM was 17.9%. BFP correlated well with BMI (correlation coefficient: 0.956, p<0.001). BFP ≥30% and BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 significantly increased the risk of GDM (22.2% vs. 12%, p=0.023 and 26.4% vs. 14.4%, p=0.014, respectively). The sensitivity of BFP ≥30% and BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 for GDM diagnosis was 71.1% and 43.3%, respectively while the specificity was 45.3% and 73.7%, respectively. Both BFP and BMI had comparable efficacy in diagnosing GDM [areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) of 0.634 and 0.642, respectively]. Conclusions BFP ≥30% and BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 significantly increased the risk of GDM. BFP correlated well with BMI and had similar efficacy in diagnosing GDM., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Siriraj Institutional Review Board issued approval Si 158/2021. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Tunkemrat et al.)

In parasitoid wasps, body size is a key predictor of reproductive success, as size is often correlated with increased gamete production. In Hymenoptera, due to haplodiploid sex determination, sperm are required to produce daughters but not sons, so sex allocation relies on a female's ability to obtain and manage a finite supply of sperm. Body size may, therefore, affect sex allocation if smaller males provide fewer sperm, or if larger, more fertile females deplete their sperm supplies by fertilizing more eggs. We examined the importance of male and female body size on offspring production and sex allocation in the parasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis (Walker). We predicted larger females would experience constrained sex allocation due to limited sperm, especially if mated with smaller males. We categorized 80 males and 80 females by size (large or small) into 4 mating groups: large females with large or small males, and small females with large or small males. We analyzed brood size and offspring sex ratios after each female oviposited on 12 pupae of Sarcophaga bullata (Parker). Overall, larger females produced more offspring and a greater proportion of males. Sex ratios became more male-biased with increased offspring production, indicating that sperm depletion had affected sex allocation in larger females. In contrast, male size did not affect sex allocation, but exhibited a small positive effect on females' offspring production. Our study highlights a complex relationship between body size, fecundity, and sex allocation, enhancing our understanding of reproductive strategies in haplodiploid organisms., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

It is commonly observed that poor access to food, especially during maternity and lactation, leads to under-nutrition and increases the probability of premature birth, anaemia amongst mothers and childhood stunting. This study investigates the correlation and aims to determine the relationship between childhood stunting and maternal underweight in specific rural and urban zones within the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Primary data was collected through in-person interviews with checked and approved questionnaires during April- August 2023. A child aged one to fifty-nine months was selected randomly from each family to take part in the study. The Binary logistic regression model was used to investigate the impact of maternal body mass index (BMI) on rural-urban child stunting, long term nutritional deficit. A total of 860 children from both urban (430) and rural (430) backgrounds participated in the study. This study found a slight difference in the rate of stunting. The prevalence of stunting remains high at 9 percent in the urban zone and 11percent in the rural region. The study infers that addressing maternal malnutrition and educating and empowering women will improve access to family planning while reducing childhood stunting. Therefore, implementation of dietary, counselling, delivery transportation, and child spacing is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]