Obese women urged to lose weight before pregnancy

Obese women should lose weight before becoming pregnant to avoid complications, researchers have warned.

An academic review by three universities in Ireland, Britain, and Sweden warns that pregnant obese women and their babies face increased health risks.

Problems can include gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, and depression. Obese women are also at risk of higher levels of instrumental and caesarean birth and surgical site infection,.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Obesity Reviews, also highlights the lack of support for women with obesity.

The review was carried out by academics at the school of nursing and midwifery at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Gothenberg, and City University London.

The prevalence of maternal obesity in women aged 20 to 39 is 31.9% in the US, while the European average is between 30% and 37%. In Ireland, the prevalence is estimated at between 20% and 25%.

Maternal obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above when starting pregnancy, is also linked with a greater risk of pre-term-birth, larger babies, foetal defects, congenital anomalies, and stillbirth.

The researchers also found that maternal obesity is the most significant factor leading to obesity in their children, and, coupled with excessive weight gain in pregnancy, also results in long term obesity for women.

To get a comprehensive insight into all risks related to obesity in pregnant women, the researchers produced an overview of 22 systematic reviews that looked at 573 research studies comparing outcomes between pregnant women with obesity and those of healthy weight.

Study author Cecily Begley of TCD said up to one in five pregnant women in Ireland suffered from obesity. He said maternal obesity was a serious problem, not currently adequately addressed, and stressed that women should not be stigmatised because of their weight.

“We need to provide pre-conceptual health education, through national subsidised programmes, to support and encourage women with a high BMI to lose weight before they conceive,” said Prof Begley. “The benefits for them and their babies can be significant.”

Michael Turner, clinical lead for the National Clinical Programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said potential complications of obesity in pregnancy could lead to longer hospital stays and greater costs.

“Given the high proportion of pregnant women with obesity, it is crucial to invest in weight loos support for these women to reduce the risks for mothers and babies,” said Prof Turner.

Meanwhile, women hoping to get pregnant should start before they are 30, a fertility doctor has said. Geeta Nargund said teaching women about the dangers of delaying parenthood would “empower people to take control of their fertility”.

She said the increasing numbers of women in their 30s and 40s seeking IVF treatment, was putting an unnecessary burden on health services.

“I have witnessed all too often the shock and agony on the faces of women who realise they have left it too late to start a family,” said Prof Nargund. “For so many, this news comes as a genuine surprise and the sense of devastation and regret can be overwhelming.

“Information is power and the best way to empower people to take control of their fertility is through education. Ideally, if a woman is ready for a child, she should start trying by the time she is 30. She should consider having a child early because as a woman gets older, her fertility declines sharply.”

DISCOVER MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS