Obesity has become a significant challenge globally, with a noticeable increase in its prevalence since the 1970s. Current estimates suggest that over one billion people worldwide are obese (with a BMI of 30 or above). A current debate among obstetricians is how to ensure that babies have a “normal” weight range during pregnancy. To achieve this, experts recommend optimal gestational weight gain (optGWG) based on pre-pregnancy body mass index (ppBMI). This relationship can be expressed mathematically as y = ax + b, where y is the optimal gestational weight gain, x is the pre-pregnancy BMI, and a and b are constants. For women with severe obesity (BMI of 36 kg/m² or more), weight gain during pregnancy is not recommended, and weight loss may even be necessary for women with higher BMIs (e.g., a weight loss of 6 kg for a morbidly obese woman with a BMI of 40 kg/m²). This approach not only helps counterbalance the negative effects of high BMIs during pregnancy but also reduces the risk of macrosomic and large-for-gestational-age newborns. It is also recommended that women adopt healthy habits in their future lives to maintain a healthy weight.
Author(s) Details:
Pierre-Yves Robillard,
Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sud Réunion, BP 350, 97448 Saint-Pierre Cedex, La Réunion, France and Centre d’Etudes Périnatales Océan Indien (CEPOI), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sud Réunion, BP 350, 97448 Saint-Pierre Cedex, La Réunion, France.
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