Pregnant women who are obese, defined as a weight of more than 200 pounds, have an elevated risk of health problems both to themselves and their babies. And, the incidence of obesity among pregnant women in the United States is increasing, according to a recent study.

The study followed women in the Cleveland area including over 31,000 who gave birth between 1986 and 1997 and more than 15,000 who gave birth between 1997 and 2001. The mothers' weight on the day of birth was recorded and pregnancy-related health problems were noted both before and after delivery.

Findings indicated that obesity rates had significantly increased over the study duration. After 1997, obesity during pregnancy increased 42 percent among African American women, 29 percent among white women and 26 percent among Hispanic women. Conversely, Asian women were almost 40 percent less likely to be obese.

Of the women in the study, 17 percent were characterized as moderately obese (201 to 250 pounds), four percent were severely obese (251 to 300 pounds), and slightly over one percent were extremely obese (over 300 pounds).

The rise in maternal obesity, which reflects the rise in U.S. obesity levels overall, is a significant public health concern because of the many associated risks it poses.

One such risk found among moderately obese women was an increased risk for preeclampsia, a high-blood pressure condition that can cause extreme swelling in the mother's face and hands, and is associated with an increased risk of health problems to the newborn. The condition can also progress to eclampsia, which involves seizures during and after childbirth that can be life-threatening.

An increased risk of having to deliver by cesarean section, delivering an abnormally large child, carrying their child for longer than usual, and diabetes were also noted in the study among obese pregnant women.

Even mild forms of obesity pose a risk, researchers say. One way to avoid these risks is by controlling weight while not pregnant. While it is commonly taught that weight-loss during pregnancy is bad for the fetus, researchers now believe that starting a weight-loss program during pregnancy may be beneficial.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology December 2002;187:1189-1192

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

An article in Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology confirms that obesity during pregnancy is loaded with complications including: Increased rates of hypertensive disease, cesarean section and infections Higher rates of blood clots and respiratory complications Independent risk factor for neural tube defects, fetal mortality and preterm delivery Increased risk for having a child who may have an increased risk of subsequent childhood obesity and its associated morbidity We know that over two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and nearly all of these people would benefit from normalizing their weights. It seems prudent to follow a normalizing eating plan during pregnancy. This should not be confused in any way with a low-calorie diet. These types of diets are not wise for nearly anyone to follow but could be especially harmful for pregnant women. You can follow the "listen to your body principle" to eat the right amount of calories for you. As my forthcoming book, The No Grain Diet, will explore in great detail, avoiding grains is central to this process for nearly everyone, including pregnant women who want to lose weight. My approach for weight loss is a combination of the no grain approach while eating right for your metabolic type. The beautiful thing about this combined approach is that if you need to lose weight it will help you achieve that, but if you are underweight it will also help you to gain weight. Related Articles: To Succeed at Any Diet, You Must Know Your nutritional type