Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 28, 2025

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

11.9K

Racial Disparities in Preterm Birth among Pregnant Women with Obesity

Anuoluwapo Egbejimi1, Veronica Ajewole, Deepa Dongarwar2

  • 1From the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston.

Southern Medical Journal
|June 1, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Obesity exacerbates racial disparities in preterm birth (PTB), with non-Hispanic Black women facing the highest risk. This study highlights significant health inequities impacting the Black population.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Racial disparities in preterm birth (PTB) are a significant public health concern in the United States.
  • Obesity is a known risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, but its role in widening racial disparities in PTB requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of obesity on preterm birth (PTB) among different racial groups in the U.S.
  • To determine if obesity exacerbates the racial-ethnic disparity gap in PTB, focusing on non-Hispanic Black and White women.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted using U.S. birth data from 2014-2019.
  • Data included 14,864,844 births, analyzed for associations between obesity, race, and PTB.

Main Results:

  • Preterm birth (PTB) rates were higher among non-Hispanic Black women compared to non-Hispanic White and Hispanic women.
  • A dose-dependent relationship was observed between high body mass index (obesity) and increased PTB risk.
  • Significant racial disparities in PTB persisted among obese pregnant women, with non-Hispanic Black women showing the highest risk.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity is a critical factor contributing to the disproportionately high rates of preterm birth (PTB) among non-Hispanic Black women.
  • The findings underscore the existence of persistent health disparities affecting the Black population in maternal and infant outcomes.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta11:44

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

11.5K
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

11.4K

Related Concept Videos

Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
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...
552
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,...
1.0K
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:  
388
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...
2.6K
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...
155