A new study reveals that mothers who experienced childhood trauma, such as neglect or violence, may pass on metabolic changes to their male infants, leading to excessive weight gain as early as the first two months of life. Published in Scientific Reports, the research followed 352 mother-baby pairs in Brazil and highlights potential long-term risks for obesity and diabetes. The findings underscore the intergenerational effects of trauma on physical health.
The study, conducted by researchers from Columbia University, Duke University, and the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), found that male infants of mothers with childhood trauma gained weight significantly faster than recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). While the WHO advises a daily weight gain of up to 30 grams, some babies in the study gained as much as 78 grams per day.
Key factors were controlled to ensure accuracy, including the mothers’ stress levels, socioeconomic status, and breastfeeding practices. Notably, 70% of the infants were exclusively breastfed, ruling out external dietary influences. “Our results suggest early metabolic alterations in these babies,” said Andrea Parolin Jackowski, the study’s coordinator in Brazil.
The research also uncovered a sex-specific effect: only male infants were impacted. Jackowski explained that physiological differences in the placenta, such as heightened susceptibility to maternal stress hormones like cortisol, may make male fetuses more vulnerable. Female placentas, by contrast, appear to adapt better, protecting the fetus from excessive growth disruptions.
Dr. Jackowski emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the findings: “This is the first study to show that maternal childhood trauma can trigger physical changes, like altered weight gain, in infants as young as two months old.” She added, “It’s not deterministic—these changes may be modifiable with intervention.”
The research team plans to follow the children until age two to further investigate the role of diet and potential interventions. The study opens new avenues for understanding how early-life trauma can influence metabolic health across generations, while offering hope that such effects may be mitigated through targeted care.
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