Excessive weight gain among obese women and pregnancy outcomes

Amy A. Flick, Kathleen F. Brookfield, Lesley De La Torre, Carmen Maria Tudela, Lunthita Duthely, Víctor Hugo González-Quintero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

We evaluated pregnancy outcomes in obese women with excessive weight gain during pregnancy. A retrospective study was performed on all obese women. Outcomes included rates of preeclampsia (PEC), gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery (CD), preterm delivery, low birth weight, very low birth weight, macrosomia, 5-minute Apgar score of <7, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and were stratified by body mass index (BMI) groups class I (BMI 30 to 35.9 kg/m2), class II (36 to 39.9 kg/m2), and class III (40 kg/m2). Gestational weight change was abstracted from the mother's medical chart and was divided into four categories: weight loss, weight gain of up to 14.9 pounds, weight gain of 15 to 24.9 pounds, and weight gain of more than 25 pounds. A total 20,823 obese women were eligible for the study. Univariate analysis revealed higher rates of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, Cesarean deliveries, preterm deliveries, low birth weight, macrosomia, and NICU admission in class II and class III obese women when compared with class I women. When different patterns of weight gain were used as in the logistic regression model, rates of PEC and CD were increased. Excessive weight gain among obese women is associated with adverse outcomes with a higher risk as BMI increases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)333-338
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican journal of perinatology
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy outcomes
  • Weight gain during pregnancy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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