Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2011 Nov;8(6):A125.
Epub 2011 Oct 17.

Screening for obesity in reproductive-aged women

Chloe Zera  1 , Susan McGirr, Emily Oken
Affiliations
Review

Screening for obesity in reproductive-aged women

Chloe Zera et al. Prev Chronic Dis. 2011 Nov.

Abstract

Although obesity screening and treatment are recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force, 1 in 5 women are obese when they conceive. Women are at risk for complications of untreated obesity particularly during the reproductive years and may benefit from targeted screening. Risks of obesity and potential benefits of intervention in this population are well characterized. Rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and stillbirth increase as maternal body mass index increases. Offspring risks include higher rates of congenital anomalies, abnormal intrauterine growth, and childhood obesity. Observational data suggest that weight loss may reduce risks of obesity-related pregnancy complications. Although obesity screening has not been studied in women of reproductive age, the effect of obesity and the potential for significant maternal and fetal benefits make screening of women during the childbearing years an essential part of the effort to reduce the impact of the obesity epidemic.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention State-specific prevalence of obesity among adults — United States, 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010;59(30):951–955. - PubMed
    1. US Preventive Services Task Force Screening for obesity in adults: recommendations and rationale. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(11):930–932. - PubMed
    1. Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults: the evidence report. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; 1998. [Accessed May 27, 2011]. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf . - PubMed
    1. Johnson K, Posner SF, Biermann J, Cordero JF, Atrash HK, Parker CS, et al. MMWR Recomm Rep. Vol. 55. RR-6: 2006. pp. 1–23.Recommendations to improve preconception health and health care — United States. A report of the CDC/ATSDR Preconception Care Work Group and the Select Panel on Preconception Care; - PubMed
    1. Murthy AS. Obesity and contraception: emerging issues. Semin Reprod Med. 2010;28(2):156–163. - PubMed