Parental Obesity Linked to Increased MASLD Risk in Offspring

Study finds children of overweight or obese parents have higher odds of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by age 24.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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A new study has found that children whose parents had overweight or obesity before pregnancy had significantly increased odds of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by age 24 years, and much of this risk was explained by excess weight gained during childhood.

Why it matters

This study highlights the importance of addressing parental obesity and childhood weight gain to help prevent the development of MASLD, a serious liver condition, in the next generation. Understanding these intergenerational links can inform public health interventions targeting obesity and liver disease.

The details

Researchers assessed data from a UK-based prospective cohort, including 1,933 offspring born between 1991 and 1992. They found that each 1-unit increase in maternal or paternal BMI before pregnancy was linked to a 10% and 9% increase, respectively, in the odds of the offspring developing MASLD by age 24. When both parents had overweight or obesity, the offspring had 3.73 times the odds of developing MASLD compared to when both parents had normal weight. Excess weight gained between ages 7 and 17 accounted for 67% of the increased MASLD risk associated with parental overweight or obesity.

  • The study included offspring born between 1991 and 1992.
  • Participants were assessed for MASLD at age 24 years.

The players

Stefani Tica, MD

The lead author of the study, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Wellcome Trust

The organization that provided support for the study.

UK Medical Research Council

The organization that provided support for the study.

University of Bristol

The institution that provided additional support for the prospective cohort study.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

The organization that provided a grant for the Washington University Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Training Program, which one of the authors reported receiving support from.

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What they’re saying

“Although the mechanisms behind this association are complex, our study suggests a window where early intervention on excess adiposity may decrease the burden of MASLD among future generations.”

— Stefani Tica, MD (Gut)

The takeaway

This study underscores the importance of addressing parental obesity and childhood weight gain as key factors in preventing the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the next generation. Early interventions targeting excess weight could help mitigate the intergenerational burden of this serious liver condition.