The obesity epidemic facing the nation has far-reaching impacts, and its impact on one particular group--pregnant women--is often missed. It's estimated that of the 6 million U.S. women who are pregnant at any given time, 3 million are overweight or obese.

Being overweight or obese while pregnant increases the risk for:

This serious problem has not been addressed by any major public health efforts, despite the fact that over half of women between the childbearing ages of 20 and 39 are overweight or obese. The problem worsens as women tend to eat unrestricted amounts of food while pregnant.

It's recommended by the Institute of Medicine that women of a healthy weight gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy while overweight women gain 15 to 25 pounds and obese women no more than 15 pounds. However, in 2002, 21 percent of pregnant women gained 40 pounds or more. Other studies on the amount of weight typically gained by pregnant women found some interesting results:

• 69 percent of healthy-weight pregnant women gained an "excessive" amount of weight during pregnancy.
• 85 percent of overweight pregnant women gained excessive amounts.
• 79 percent of obese pregnant women gained excessive amounts.

Dangers of Being Overweight or Obese While Pregnant

More and more studies are focusing on this important issue. Studies have found:

• One in three UK women who die during pregnancy or childbirth are grossly overweight, and the death is usually associated with obesity.

• Labor progresses more slowly for overweight and obese women, which increases the risk of cesarean sections. These women also have a greater risk of suffering from life-threatening complications from the surgery.

• Women who gain over 35 pounds during pregnancy are more likely to be overweight 15 years later, which puts them at an increased risk for health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and depression.

Dangers to Children of Overweight and Obese Moms

Babies born to obese and overweight mothers are also at risk. Compared with babies born to healthy-weight moms, these children have:

• Twice the risk of congenital heart defects and multiple birth defects.

• Three times the chance of being born with omphalocele, a defect in which intestines or other abdominal organs protrude through the navel.

• A greater risk of neural tube (spinal cord and/or brain) defects, including spina bifida.

• A greater risk (15 times greater) of being obese later in life.

• A greater risk of breast, blood and digestive tract cancers.

Many doctors don't bring up the risks associated with having a child while overweight or obese with patients, perhaps because so many women are obese that doctors have "grown numb" to the issue. Doctors generally discourage dieting during pregnancy because it puts the fetus at risk, so weight problems are best addressed before becoming pregnant, experts say.

Washington Post February 22, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

In case you don't have a chance to read the original Washington Post article above, it describes one obese woman whose pregnancy had been smooth until the 32-week mark when she was diagnosed with preeclampsia. Less than five weeks later, she lost her child soon after experiencing excruciating pains in her abdomen. This woman's story has a happy ending, however. The 30-year-old woman became pregnant 15 months later and is now working with a nutritionist to modify her diet as well as making an effort to be more active. This subject is personal for me considering my sister was my office manager for 10 years prior to her becoming pregnant. Being somewhat of an obsessive compulsive like me, she worked through most of her pregnancy. She eventually came down with preeclampsia that resulted in an early delivery. But, of course, there may have been a simple solution to her problem. A study, published three years ago in the British Medical Journal clearly showed that taking fish oil was associated with lessening the risk for premature delivery. Moreover, not only do omega-3 fats dramatically reduce pregnancy complications, but a high-quality fish oil does wonders to improve the health of all children. It also seems prudent to follow a healthier eating plan during pregnancy, based on a woman's unique metabolic type. 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. The bottom line is that obesity wreaks havoc on your health, and that havoc will extend throughout your pregnancy and will also affect your unborn child. If you are planning to become a parent, your best bet is to reach a healthy weight beforehand. You'll reduce your risk of all the preventable health problems associated with obesity during pregnancy, not only for yourself but also for your child. And your child deserves a chance at a healthy start in life, something they may not get if obesity-related complications get in the way. Related Articles: Obesity Among Pregnant Women on the Rise in the US Obesity and Diabetes Increases Risk of Birth Defects Children of Undernourished Mothers May Become Obese as Adults Fish Oil in Pregnancy Can Prevent Diabetes Pregnancy Nutrients Can Super Charge Your Baby's Brain For Life Pregnant Women Warned--Mercury in Fish can Damage Infants' Brains