Military maternal weight trends and perinatal outcomes
Christina C Hill1, Donald J Gloeb
1Tripler Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett White Road, Honolulu, HI 96825, USA.
Military Medicine
|August 10, 2013
Summary
Maternal obesity is increasing in active duty military women, mirroring national trends. This rise in pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is linked to adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Public Health
- Military Medicine
Background:
- Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States.
- National trends show increasing obesity prevalence.
- Military healthcare facilities serve a population that may reflect these trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if obesity prevalence is increasing in active duty (AD) women receiving care at military treatment facilities.
- To compare obesity trends in AD women to national data.
- To investigate the association between maternal obesity and obstetric outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study comparing women delivering in 1999 and 2006.
- Included women delivering living, singleton, term, nonanomalous neonates.
- Compared pre-pregnancy weight and weight gain, stratified by AD status, age, and ethnicity.
- Evaluated obstetric outcomes based on body mass index (BMI).
Main Results:
- Pre-pregnancy BMI significantly increased from 1999 to 2006 for all women (25.0 to 25.6) and specifically for AD women (24.3 to 25.4).
- The prevalence of overweight and obese women rose from 41.2% to 46.2% between 1999 and 2006 across all ethnicities.
- Obesity was associated with an increase in adverse obstetric outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Maternal obesity is demonstrably increasing within the military population over time.
- This trend is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
- Findings highlight the need for monitoring and intervention strategies for maternal obesity in military healthcare.
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