Effect of Maternal Obesity on Pregnancy Outcomes and Metabolic Consequences

Abstract

Background: Conversely, mother’s obesity is a complex condition with marked application for the health of both mothers and infants. This study looks to examine the impact of mother’s obesity on pregnancy outcomes and the associated metabolic consequences. Consistent with other studies (9), our results corroborated the marked correlations between mother’s obesity and worse pregnancy outcomes. Obese pregnant female have a higher likelihood of cesarean delivery and an elevated risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), and other pregnancy-related problems compared to those of normal weight (10). The findings underscore the need of addressing mother’s obesity as a marked public health condition to enhance health outcomes for both mothers and infants.
Objective: To investigate the impact of maternal obesity on pregnancy outcomes and its metabolic consequences for offspring.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Gynecology B Unit of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, including 6,910 obstetric admissions from January to December of the previous year. Pregnant women aged 18-45 years with singleton pregnancies were included, while those with pre-existing conditions were excluded. BMI was calculated based on self-reported pre-pregnancy weight and height, and participants were categorized into normal weight and obese (≥30 kg/m²) groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: The examination of parity distribution uncovered a notable difference between the two groups. The group of individuals with obesity exhibited a higher occurrence of female who had never given birth (962, 75.6%) when compared to the group of individuals with normal weight (2140, 55.6%). Furthermore, an imbalance in the socioeconomic status among the participants was observed, with a greater proportion of female from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in the obese category (910, 71.5%) compared to those in the normal-weight category (1810, 47%). A total of 1464 individuals in the normal weight group were identified as having a moderate socioeconomic status, accounting for 38% of the entire population, while 578 individuals were categorized as having a high socioeconomic status, making up 15% of the total. The collected data revealed that the proportions among individuals with obesity were 222 (17.4%) and 140 (11%) occurrences, respectively
Conclusion: As a result, it can be concluded that mother’s obesity markedly impacts pregnancy outcomes and the metabolic well-being of both the mother and the child. Focused interventions are crucial to tackle mother’s obesity and alleviate its associated conditions. This will ultimately lead to improved health results for female and children across the globe. There is a connection between mother’s obesity and adverse outcomes during pregnancy. The findings encompass various metabolic outcomes, such as gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders that develop during the course of pregnancy.