Overweight Women Have More Difficult Pregnancies

This study, reported in BMC Public Health (registration may be required, but it’s free) looked at birth outcomes for 24,000 mothers over the 30 years from 1975 - 2005. Here’s the studies’ conclusion:

Increasing BMI is associated with increased incidence of pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, macrosomia, induction of labour and caesarean delivery; while underweight women had better pregnancy outcomes than women with normal BMI.

Nuff said. With the rapidly increasing number of younger women who are overweight or obese, this is a significant health issue. Please note, or advise anyone you know who may be at risk.

Add comment August 4th, 2007