Obesity And Pregnancy : Early Education And Prevention

In United States of America (USA), the prevalence of obesity was 10% among children 2 to 5 years of age and 15% among adolescents. When children at risk for obesity (overweight) were included, the values increased to 20% and 30%, respectively. Therefore, > 1 of every 4 patients examined by pediatricians either is obese or is considered to be at high risk for developing this challenging health problem (Ogden et al.,

This literature review will look into obesity in pregnancy and the influences its has on maternity care. The review will explore specifically health promotion including weight, dietary and exercise advice given to obese women, and will explore the challenges that come with giving weight related advice for the midwife and the women involved.

Most pregnancies progress with the mother being healthy, however in some cases problems do arise with the mother developing complications. This can in the form of gestational diabetes. Mothers who didn’t have diabetes prior to pregnancy exhibit high blood sugar levels, in most cases this is during the later stages of pregnancy, this could lead to pre-eclampsia and babies could be born with higher birth weights. If left unchecked mothers can develop type 2 diabetes post pregnancy.

Obesity has a negative influence on blood pressure and cholesterol, and may lead to diabetes.

In our time period, there is a significant increase in the average body index in all age groups and most commonly with the women who are entering their reproduction age. According to the article, “Weight Gain During Pregnancy”, a normal weighted gravida, or pregnant woman, has BMI of 18.5–24.9 Kg/m2, over-weight gravida has BMI of 25–29.9 Kg/m2, and obese gravida has BMI of 30 and greater Kg/m2. Obese pregnant women face many critical health risks compare to normal weight pregnant women. In the study “Maternal Obesity a Global Health Problem and Its Implications on Maternal and Fetal Health”, by Hashmi and his colleagues, they aimed to find out if obese women were at greater risk of having adverse reproductive outcomes compared to women with a normal BMI. By using

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011-2012, more than 34% of all adults are obese in that their BMI exceeds 24 (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). Interestingly, though this prevalence is high, it seems as though there has not been an increase since the same study done from 2003-2004. This seems to imply that we have plateaued at the peak that we have been rising towards since 1976 (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). To take this further, during the time of increasing incidences, in a study done from 1990-2004, it was seen that “the incidence of maternal obesity at the start of pregnancy [was] increasing and accelerating” which corresponds with the previous study’s findings (Heslehurst, et al.,

In the recent decades, obesity has grown into a major health issue in the United States. Obesity in the United States has become the country with the highest rate of obesity in the world. Obesity seems not to be only found in adults anymore, appears to be found among children and it’s a serious life threatening. Childhood obesity turned into a medical situation that children are destined to suffer from psychological, health problems and health care cost that affect children’s.

Regarding my continuity case, she came into booking with a BMI of 31; meaning she was clinically obese. It is important to take into account that according to NICE guidelines (2014) weight is defined into groups. BMI 18.5-24.9 (Healthy weight); BMI 25.0-29.9 (Overweight) BMI 30.0-34.9 (Obesity class 1); BMI 35.0-39.9 (Obesity class 2); and BMI 40 and over (Obesity class 3 or morbid obesity.) When using this classification method we can see that this lady falls into class 1; meaning that according to NICE they advise at this stage we give general advice on healthy weight and lifestyle, along with diet and physical activity. It is should be remembered that diet is not usually advised before during or immediately after pregnancy; but these women should be encouraged to attempt to eat a healthy, well balanced diet (Nutrition and Development, 2013). Gentle

Obesity rates in the United States have been increasing ever since the fifties. The 1950s is widely known as the time period when unhealthy habits, harmful methods of shedding pounds, and obesity became commonplace. Childhood Obesity, an article concerned with the rising issue, states that according to the American Medical Association, in 2009 there were 12.5 million obese children in the United States. Obesity rates in children are of particular concern, and an understanding of the factors impacting this phenomenon is important if there is to be any hope of reversing the trend. Because obesity in American children is becoming normal, guardians should attempt to deliver healthy children and regulate children’s diets and activities in a stricter manner.

When mums become over weight (if you are not already over weight before pregnancy) in their pregnancy this can cause a lot of issues with the birth of the baby. If mums weight increases, risk of baby being born too large increases this can lead to obesity in child, this can also trigger delivery complications and can lead to caesarian section and this can prolong the recovery after giving birth.

Objectives: The objective of the research article was to test the use of metformin verses a placebo as a potential solution to reducing insulin resistance in order to reduce the incidence of obesity-related complications in women during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes mellitus and excessive gestational weight gain.

A woman's consumption habits, while she is expecting can have a profound effect on a baby’s metabolism. In the documentary, part 5 Generation XL we see an alarming trend of obese infants. Inquiries on how babies whose main diet consist of milk are experiencing obesity at such a young age are made by Dr. Lairar. Dr. Lairar explains, “You lay down your fat before you're born, […] and what determines how much fat you lay down, the baby’s insulin before they're born […] and what determines the baby’s insulin, the mothers’ diet”. ( The Skinny on Obesity)I do think that a mother's dietary habits, may be correlative in effecting a baby's health. The correlation between the mothers’ consumption habits, and obesity in babies in the uterus depends on the mother's dietary habits.

Obesity is one of the causes of neural tube defect. If the woman is obese the baby has greater chances of a major birth defect. “Major birth defects could be expected in four out of 100 babies born to obese mothers. The average birth defect risk is closer to three in 100 births among babies born to normal-weight mothers.” (WebMd, 2015).

The obesity in women can result in infertility. “Overweight and obese women are at a high risk for reproductive health. The risk of subfecundity and infertility, conception rates, miscarriage rates, and pregnancy complications are increased in these women.” (Dağ, 2015) The menstrual dysfunction and anovulation are higher in the women those who are

Obesity plays a major role in women’s health and impacts it in numerous ways. Those who are at increased risk for obesity are African American, have multiple children or are in their twenties. (Sarina Schrager, 2011) Obesity puts the women at greater risk for developing coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, preeclampsia, cancers, and musculoskeletal pain among the many other complications that may be associated to being overweight. Obese women may have trouble becoming pregnant due to irregular menstrual cycles and decreased fertility. Women who are obese are at greater risk for complications during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Cesarean rates are higher among obese women which require longer hospital stays and increase