Abstract: In recent years, the global prevalence of obesity continues to rise and the problem of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age has become more prominent, leading to worldwide attention. Obesity can contribute to a series of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, etc. At the same time, more and more evidences indicated that maternal obesity might have potential and long-term adverse effects on the development of their offspring. Previous studies mainly focused on the endocrine changes in maternal obesity-related offspring, whereas some epidemiological investigations and animal model studies have recently shown the correlations between maternal obesity and nervous and mental diseases in its offspring. This article provides an overview of the effects of maternal obesity on the nervous and mental system in the offspring, including the occurrence and development of intellectual disability, schizophrenia, autism, anxiety, and Alzheimer′s disease. Additionally, it can elucidate the correlative mechanism, which would have crucial clinical and social significance in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the nervous and mental diseases for maternal obesity-related offspring.

Key words: Obesity, Pregnancy, Offspring, Nervous system diseases, Psychotic disorders