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Review
. 2016 Aug 19;2(3):FSO137.
doi: 10.4155/fsoa-2016-0035. eCollection 2016 Sep.

Obesity epidemic: impact from preconception to postpartum

Hind N Moussa  1 , Mesk A Alrais  1 , Mateo G Leon  1 , Elizabeth L Abbas  1 , Baha M Sibai  1
Affiliations
Review

Obesity epidemic: impact from preconception to postpartum

Hind N Moussa et al. Future Sci OA. .

Abstract

The obesity epidemic is on the rise throughout the USA and the world. Not only does it affect the general population but it also specifically poses unique threats to a woman's life in the antepartum, peripartum and postpartum periods. An increased BMI is associated with worse perinatal outcomes, including higher rates of preeclampsia (and other hypertensive disorders), macrosomia, other neonatal morbidities and gestational diabetes. Isolated maternal obesity and additional maternal diabetes predispose the infant to potential adult disease through fetal programming. This review of the literature examines the effects of obesity on a woman's life, outlining complications beginning with preconception through the postpartum period.

Keywords: fetal programming; obesity; pregnancy; women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

<b>Figure 1.</b>
Figure 1.. Percentage of gestational diabetes comparing obese pregnant women versus control.
†Comparison between super obese (BMI >50 kg/m2) vs obese (BMI 30–39.9 kg/m2).
<b>Figure 2.</b>
Figure 2.. Hypertensive disease in pregnancy in obese pregnant women versus control.
†Comparison between super obese (BMI >50kg/m2) vs obese (BMI 30–39.9 kg/m2). ‡Included only gestational hypertension and not preeclampsia.
<b>Figure 3.</b>
Figure 3.. Percentage of macrosomia comparing obese pregnant women versus control group within a population of study.
†Comparison between super obese (BMI >50kg/m2) vs obese (BMI 30–39.9 kg/m2).
<b>Figure 4.</b>
Figure 4.. Percentage of cesarean section comparing obese pregnant women versus control group within a population of study.
†Included only emergent cesarean sections. ‡Included only primary emergent cesarean sections. §Comparison between super obese (BMI >50 kg/m2) vs obese (BMI 30–39.9 kg/m2).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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