Effects of Obesity on Pregnancy Outcomes

Park, Yoon Ki; Lee, Young Gi; Lee, Bong Gyu

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare pregnancy outcomes between obese and nonobese women and to determine the effect of gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcome in obese women.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted comparing 100 obese and 300 nonobese women who delivered a singleton live birth at Yeungnam university hospital from June 1998 to Dec 1998. Morbid obesity was defined as a body mass index greater than 30. The incidence of selected perinatal and neonatal outcome was assessed for two groups.
RESULTS
Morbidly obese patients were more likly to experience pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, placental abruption, fetal distress, meconium aspiration, cesarean delivery & birth trauma. However, these were not affected by gestational weight gain in morbidly obese women. Weight gains more than 12kg were strongly associated with birth of a large for gestational age(LGA) neonate, however, poor weight gain did not appear to incrcase the risk of delivery of a low birth weight neonate.
CONCLUSION
To optimize fetal growth, weight gain of 7-12kg for obese women appear to be appropriate. To reduce the risk of delivery of an LGA neonate, the optimal gestational weight gain for obese women should not exceed 12kg.