Measuring and Managing Obesity in Pregnancy Using the Edmonton Obesity Staging System: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health

Background:

• Obesity is a chronic disease often measured by body mass index (BMI), which assesses size rather than functionality.
• Clinical guidelines suggest the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) as an alternative or adjunct to BMI for obesity assessment.
• Pregnant individuals are an underrepresented group in EOSS research, despite BMI's limitations in prenatal care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize existing research on the application of the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) in pregnancy.
• To identify gaps in current research and suggest future directions for EOSS utilization in prenatal care.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed to identify and synthesize relevant studies.
• Searched for cohort studies evaluating the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) in pregnant populations.

Main Results:

• Only three cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, highlighting a significant research gap.
• Both elevated body mass index (BMI) and higher EOSS stages (3 and 4) were associated with increased prenatal complications.
• Identified prenatal complications included preeclampsia, venous thromboembolism, and wound complications.

Conclusions:

• The Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) shows promise as a patient-centered tool for diagnosing and managing obesity in pregnancy.
• Further research is warranted to explore the comparative and combined use of EOSS and BMI in prenatal care.
• EOSS may provide a more functional assessment of obesity-related risks during pregnancy compared to BMI alone.