Gynic Disorders

Obesity and overweight are defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of body fat that, if it occurs during pregnancy , increases the risk of complications for both the mother and the baby.

A simple way to measure obesity is the body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing a person’s weight expressed in kg by the square of the height in meters (kg/m2). That is, a person with a BMI equal to or greater than 25 is considered to be overweight and with a BMI equal to or greater than 30 is considered obese.

It is estimated that more than 40% of pregnant women are overweight or obese. The prevalence has increased in the last 20 years. The main trigger is the availability of low-priced, high-calorie foods with little or no nutritional value.

Risk of complications for the pregnant woman

Excess body fat increases the risk of complications during pregnancy. Increases the probability of having gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, thromboembolic events, anesthetic complications and the risk of intervention during childbirth (increased instrumental delivery and cesarean section). Likewise, it increases maternal mortality and deteriorates the prognosis of the pregnant woman in the long term.

Risk of fetal and perinatal complications

Excess maternal body fat increases the risk of some structural abnormalities in the newborn (for example, cardiac abnormalities and central nervous system abnormalities), as well as their detection (up to 25% of abnormalities are not detected by ultrasound in pregnant women with obesity).

Similarly, it increases the risk of preterm delivery, macrosomia (high birth weight of the newborn), neonatal death and increases the probability of developing obesity and metabolic diseases during the newborn’s infancy.