Reducing Prepregnancy Obesity Can Reduce Undesirable Infant Health Issues

Past research has indicated that there is a link between a woman's prepregnancy weight and the future weight of her child. In fact, if a woman is overweight or obese before pregnancy, there is a greater chance that the woman's child will be overweight two to three years after birth. However, a woman's overweight or obesity can create problems for her child well before the child is two or three years old.

According to a recent report produced in Atlanta, Ga, "prepregnancy obesity is a strong risk factor for adverse fetal and infant outcomes." The report suggests that if we could eliminate the effects of prepregnancy obesity, we could put a stop to fetal deaths, spina bifida, congenital heart defects, and hydrocephalus.

The report's results are similar to the results from a 2007 study which concluded that "Mothers of offspring with spina bifida, heart defects, anorectal atresia, hypospadias, limb reduction defects, diaphragmatic hernia, and omphalocele were significantly more likely to be obese than" non-obese prepregnant women.

Further, some research indicates that "Women who are obese before they become pregnant are at higher risk of having children with lower cognitive function than mothers with a healthy prepregnancy weight..." And that "the effects of prepregnancy obesity were equivalent to a seven-year decrease in the mothers’ education and significantly lower family income..."

So prepregnancy women should be made aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy weight before they become pregnant. This is particularly true for low-income women.  One report concluded that 'prepregnancy obesity remains a critical issue for low-income women. Overall the prevalence of prepregnancy obesity increased steadily among low-income women from 1999 to 2008.'

Clearly, health care providers should place appropriate emphasis on encouraging prepregnant women to maintain a healthy weight. And indeed, weight management counseling should be given to low-income prepregnancy women. Obesity medicine practitioners should see these efforts as actions that help patients, society, and the community.

  

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