Pregnancy & obesity: case studies | World Obesity Federation

Pregnancy & obesity: case studies

The impact of body mass index on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a retrospective study in a UK obstetric population, 2004-2011

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and the impact of body mass index on maternal and neonatal outcomes in a UK obstetric population. 

Obesity in pregnancy: a retrospective prevalence-based study on health service utilisation and costs on the NHS

The aim of this paper was to investigate the utilisation of health services and associated costs among normal weight and overweight/obese pregnant women. 

Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome: a study of 287 213 pregnancies in London

The objective of this study was to look at maternal and foetal complications in relation to maternal obesity. 

Obesity in pregnancy: a study of the impact of maternal obesity on NHS maternity services

This study aimed to report on the perceived impact of maternal obesity on maternity services identified through the help of healthcare professionals caring for obese women in pregnancy in the North East region of England. 

Maternal obesity in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate maternal obesity in Africa through the assessment of different components. 

Obesity and Pregnancy in Saudi Women

This study aimed to identify the effect of maternal obesity on pregnancy and its outcome. 

Body Mass Index and Delayed Conception: A European Multicenter Study on Infertility and Subfecundity

This study was conducted as part of a wider European study on infertility and subfecundity to look at “the potential effect of body mass index on time to pregnancy in a population-based sample of pregnant women from five European countries.” 

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes by pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index among Italian population: a retrospective population-based cohort study on 27,807 deliveries

The aim of this study was “to examine pregnancy outcomes in obese and overweight North-Italian women, and evaluate the adjusted risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes as a function of increasing pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index.”

Higher Birthweight and Maternal Pre-pregnancy BMI Persist with Obesity Association at Age 9 in High Risk Latino Children

This study aimed to “identify perinatal infant and maternal risk factors as predictors for obesity in high-risk, low-income Latino children persisting until middle childhood.” 

Estimated global overweight and obesity burden in pregnant women based on panel data model

The objective of this study was to estimate the global and country-level burden of overweight and obesity among pregnant women from 2005 to 2014. Publicly accessible country-level data were collected from the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the Food and Agricultural Organization. Researchers estimated the number of overweight and obese pregnant women among 184 countries and determined the time related trend from 2005 to 2014. Based on panel data model, they determined the effects of food energy supply, urbanization, gross national income and female employment on the number of overweight and obese pregnant women. 

Clinical characteristics of 46 pregnant women with SARS-COV-2 Infection in 2 Washington states

This article examined how SARS- CoV-2 impacts pregnancy using 46 patients in the USA. Almost all patients who developed severe disease were living with overweight and obesity. After diagnosis, 16% of patients were admitted to the hospital and 2% were placed in intensive care. Researchers believe this, along with the need to induce labour prematurely in some patients to improve breathing, may suggest that pregnant women should be classified as a vulnerable group. 

Depression, obesity, and their comorbidity during pregnancy: effects on the offspring's mental and physical health

This review investigated the impact of depression, obesity, and comorbidities associated with both diseases during pregnancy on the mother’s health and on the offspring’s negative outcomes. 

Higher maternal BMI early in pregnancy is associated with overweight and obesity in young adult offspring in Thailand

There is growing evidence that maternal obesity during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of obesity and other negative health effects in children, but there are no such data for Thailand. This study investigated the relationship between maternal BMI and overweight and obesity in young infants.