Obesity in Pregnancy

The problem of mothers accumulating excess weight and developing obesity during pregnancy has been described for over 50 years and is a common reason given by obese women for their weight problem. Studies have shown that there is considerable variation in the amount of weight gained during gestation and that excess weight is often retained postpartum. Although the mean weight gain is quite small, some women experience extreme weight gains and others have cumulative increases in body weight after each pregnancy. Of equal concern is the potential impact upon the adiposity of a child born to an obese woman. Although only recently identified as of concern, the propensity of obese women to produce large babies, whether or not they display their increased susceptibility to gestational diabetes, is now linked to a much greater likelihood of these children becoming obese during childhood.