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Updated: May 13, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Published on: May 30, 2025

Obesity and its obstetric implications.

K El Nahhal¹, C Savona-Ventura

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Luke's Hospital, Gwardamangia, Malta.

The International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine

|March 21, 2013

Summary

Obese pregnant women face higher risks of hypertensive disease, infections, and impaired glucose tolerance. Their infants may have lower APGAR scores and be larger, but postpartum complications are similar to lean women.

Area of Science:

Obstetrics
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Public Health

Background:

Obesity is a known risk factor in pregnancy, potentially leading to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
Understanding the specific obstetric complications associated with varying degrees of pre-pregnancy obesity is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) categories and obstetric outcomes in primiparous women.
To compare the incidence of maternal complications, antenatal management challenges, labor characteristics, and neonatal outcomes across lean, overweight, and obese groups.

Main Methods:

A cohort of 300 primipara patients aged 20-29 years was classified into lean (BMI < 25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25-29 kg/m2), and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) groups.
Maternal complications, antenatal follow-up requirements, labor patterns, delivery modes, and neonatal outcomes (including APGAR scores and birth weight) were analyzed.

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Statistical comparisons were made between the BMI groups to identify significant differences.

Main Results:

Obese women exhibited a significantly higher incidence of hypertensive disease, edema, glycosuria, vaginal infections, and impaired glucose tolerance compared to lean women.
Antenatal care for obese women was more demanding, requiring more frequent ultrasound investigations.
Infants born to obese mothers had significantly lower 1-minute APGAR scores and were significantly larger than those born to lean mothers.
No significant differences were observed in the history of fetal loss, first or second-trimester vaginal bleeding, or postpartum complications.

Conclusions:

Pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with increased maternal morbidity, including hypertensive disorders and infections, and necessitates more intensive antenatal monitoring.
While labor duration may be prolonged in obese women, the mode of delivery is not significantly affected.
Neonatal outcomes are impacted, with lower initial APGAR scores and increased birth weight observed in infants of obese mothers, highlighting the need for targeted prenatal care and delivery planning.