By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc. Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. Nov 17 2025 A national Korean cohort study reveals that elevated pre-pregnancy BMI independently increases childhood risks of epilepsy and intellectual disability, underscoring the importance of maternal health long before conception. Study: Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring . Image Credit: pecky_photograph / Shutterstock In a recent  International Journal of Obesity