Associations of Gestational Perfluoroalkyl Substances Exposure with Early Childhood BMI z-Scores and Risk of Overweight/Obesity: Results from the ECHO Cohorts

Abstract

Background:

Gestational per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure may be associated with adiposity and increased risk of obesity among children and adolescents. However, results from epidemiological studies evaluating these associations are inconsistent.

Objectives:

We estimated the associations of pregnancy PFAS concentrations with child body mass index (BMI) $z$ -scores and risk of overweight/obesity in eight U.S. cohorts.

Methods:

We used data from 1,391 mother–child pairs who enrolled in eight Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohorts (enrolled: 1999–2019). We quantified concentrations of seven PFAS in maternal plasma or serum in pregnancy. We measured child weight and height between the ages of 2 and 5 y and calculated age- and sex-specific BMI $z$ -scores; 19.6% children had more than one BMI measurement. We estimated covariate-adjusted associations of individual PFAS and their mixture with child BMI $z$ -scores and risk of overweight/obesity using linear mixed models, modified Poisson regression models, and Bayesian approaches for mixtures. We explored whether child sex modified these associations.

Results:

We observed a pattern of subtle positive associations of PFAS concentrations in pregnancy with BMI $z$ -scores and risk of overweight/obesity. For instance, each doubling in perfluorohexane sulfonic acid concentrations was associated with higher BMI $z$ -scores ( $\mathrm{\beta }=0.07$ ; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.12). Each doubling in perfluroundecanoic acid [ $\text{relative\hspace{0.17em}risk\hspace{0.17em}}\left(\text{RR}\right)=1.10$ ; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.16] and $N$ -methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid ( $\text{RR}=1.06$ ; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.12) was associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity, with some evidence of a monotonic dose–response relation. We observed weaker and more imprecise associations of the PFAS mixture with BMI or risk of overweight/obesity. Associations did not differ by child sex.

Discussion:

In eight U.S.-based prospective cohorts, gestational exposure to higher levels of PFAS were associated with slightly higher childhood BMI $z$ -score and risk of overweight or obesity. Future studies should examine associations of gestational exposure to PFAS with adiposity and related cardiometabolic consequences in older children. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11545