Figure 1.

Potential mechanisms through which maternal obesity, metabolic state, high-fat diet, and excessive gestational weight gain may lead to the development of mental health disorders in offspring. Maternal obesity, metabolic disorders, and high-fat diet impact both intra-uterine and early post-natal development. Excessive gestational weight gain impacts intrauterine development. Maternal obesity produces systemic inflammation (via increased pro-inflammatory cytokines) and dysregulation of metabolic hormones. These cytokines/hormones cross over into the fetal circulation via the placenta. During development, enhanced inflammation of the brain is a major contributor to impairments in neural circuits critical for regulation of behaviors, such as 5-HT, DA, and melanocortin. A gender bias has also been observed in the development of mental health disorders, therefore, sex hormones may also play a role in impairing brain function; the location of its action is poorly described.