Big Bellies, Bigger Babies: The Effect of Cesarean Section Births on Childhood Obesity Compared to Vaginal Delivery

Abstract

Background: Cesarean section (CS) rates in developed countries have been on the rise for the last two decades: in the United States, there was an 11.3% increase in CS deliveries between 1996 and 2007. This is a concern due to the possible short- and long-term health effects. Objective: The purpose of this structured literature review was to assess the association between CS births and childhood obesity when compared to vaginal delivery. Methods: A structured literature review of seven North American articles was conducted after selection via specific inclusion criteria. Results: Some studies found an association between cesarean section and childhood obesity whilst others showed the association was not statistically significant due to the influence of confounders. Conclusion: The results indicate that a majority of the studies found a positive association between CS birth and obesity. Further studies need to be conducted to further determine this relationship and to identify the underlying reasons behind this possible relationship.