Maternal obesity can negatively impact fetal growth and development and increase health risks for offspring. A study found that offspring of obese mothers are at increased risk for various birth defects as well as issues like stillbirth, needing treatment in the NICU, and poorer neonatal outcomes. Children of obese mothers also have an increased risk of becoming obese themselves and developing poorer metabolic health and higher blood pressure. While genes play a role, factors like shared behaviors, fetal growth patterns, gestational diabetes, breastfeeding, and early life diet also contribute to associations between maternal weight and child outcomes.