Skip navigation

University College Dublin Logo
SEARCH UCD

Advanced Search
 
 
 

UCD News

Nuacht UCD

Posted 29 July 2010

High percentage of pregnant women overweight and obese, research finds

Almost half of all pregnant women in Ireland are overweight (43%) - with 13% of these women obese and 2% morbidly obese - according to a study conducted by the UCD Centre for Human Reproduction at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (CWIUH) in Dublin.

The study involving almost 6,000 pregnant women warns that obesity during pregnancy leads to more medical complications and a higher need for medical intervention. As part of the study, the women had their Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated in the first trimester, at their first antenatal visit.

This showed that 54% were normal weight (BMI of ≥ 18.5 and <25), 28% were overweight (BMI of ≥ 25 and <30),   13% were obese (BMI of ≥ 30 and <40), 3% were underweight(BMI of <18.5 kg/m2), and 2% were morbidly obese (BMI of ≥ 40).

“There is no national data on trends in maternal obesity,” says Dr Nadine Farah, a University College Dublin lecturer, and one of the researchers involved in the CWIUH study. "But the incidence of morbid obesity in the CWIUH is high compared with the limited amount of international data.”

“Hospitals, midwives and obstetricians need to seriously consider the long-term impact of the rise in morbidly obese mothers and make provisions for appropriate equipment and resources to deal with this problem.”

The study findings indicate a much higher risk of complications for morbidly obese expectant mothers with an induction rate of 42.1% compared with 23.5% in the normal BMI group; a pregnancy induced hypertension rate of 35.8% compared with 9.8% in the normal BMI group; a caesarean section rate of 45.3% compared to 14.4% in the normal BMI group; and an increased rate of diabetes risk with 20% of morbidly obese mothers developing gestational diabetes.

Research has also uncovered that maternal obesity in Ireland tends to be under-reported due to the fact that mothers generally self-report their Body Mass Index (BMI) inaccurately.

“Our research has shown that BMI calculations based on self-reporting leads to under-reporting of obesity in 5% of women,” adds Dr Farah. “The more precise BMI data measurement we have developed in the CWIUH is allowing us to analyse much more effectively the implications of weight in pregnancy.”

The research findings are based on two research papers: “Maternal Morbid Obesity and Obstetric Outcomes” and “Maternal Weight and body composition in the first trimester of pregnancy”.

The research programmes were conducted under the supervision of Professor Michael Turner, UCD Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Dr Mairead Kennelly and Professor Bernard Stuart at the UCD Centre for Human Reproduction at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (CWIUH) in Dublin.

 

(Produced by UCD University Relations)

 

>> More News and Events
<< Back to Home

High percentage of pregnant women overweight and obese, research finds