Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta
11:44

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta

Published on: September 27, 2017

The effect of the increasing prevalence of maternal obesity on perinatal morbidity

G C Lu1, D J Rouse, M DuBard

  • 1Center for Research in Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|October 20, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Maternal obesity has significantly increased over 20 years, leading to higher risks of cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes, and large-for-gestational-age infants. Effective prevention strategies are crucial to manage these perinatal morbidities.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Maternal obesity prevalence has been rising globally.
  • Obesity during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes.
  • Understanding temporal trends in maternal obesity and its perinatal risks is essential for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess temporal trends in maternal obesity over a 20-year period.
  • To evaluate the relative and attributable perinatal risks associated with maternal obesity.
  • To analyze changes in these risks across different 5-year intervals.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing a regional perinatal database (1980-1999).
  • Inclusion criteria: women receiving prenatal care and delivering within the health system.
  • Outcome measures: annual mean maternal weight, obesity prevalence (BMI > 29 kg/m², weight > 200 lb), and risks for cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes, and large-for-gestational-age infants.

Main Results:

  • Mean maternal weight increased by 20% (144-172 lb) from 1980-1999.
  • Obesity prevalence (BMI > 29 kg/m²) rose from 16.3% to 36.4%.
  • Obese women faced increased risks for cesarean delivery (aRR 1.5-1.8), gestational diabetes (aRR 1.8-2.9), and large-for-gestational-age infants (aRR 1.8-2.2).
  • Obesity-attributable cesarean deliveries increased from 3.9% to 11.6%; gestational diabetes from 12.8% to 29.6%; large-for-gestational-age infants from 6.5% to 19.1%.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal obesity rates and associated perinatal risks have significantly increased over two decades.
  • The rising prevalence of maternal obesity poses a substantial challenge to reducing perinatal morbidities.
  • Effective interventions to prevent and manage maternal obesity are urgently needed to mitigate adverse perinatal outcomes.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 105:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...