Obesity problem and its effects in pregnant women – ..

In the year 2014, about 3.89 crore pregnant women across the world were suffering from obesity, out of which 11.1 percent i.e. about 43 lakh women were from India. A decade later, the number of obese pregnant women in India has reached 4.4 crore in 2022. Obesity during pregnancy has become a global problem, which not only affects the mothers but also has a serious impact on the health of the fetus.

side effects of maternal obesity

1. Gestational Hypertension: Obese women have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can lead to preeclampsia and heart health complications.
2. Postpartum Hemorrhage: Women who are overweight during pregnancy have an increased risk of excessive bleeding after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage), which can prove life-threatening in the absence of proper management.
3. Thromboembolism: Obesity is a major cause of blood clots, which can lead to serious conditions.
4. Macrosomia: Children born to obese women may be larger than normal, increasing the risk of complications during delivery.
5. childhood obesity: Children born to overweight mothers have a higher risk of obesity. According to a study, the risk of obesity increases three times in the children of women who were obese before pregnancy.
6. Metabolic Disorder: Maternal obesity increases the risk of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in children.

How to deal with this problem

• Spreading Awareness: It is essential to educate women of childbearing age about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight before and during pregnancy.
• intensive care: The risk of obesity can be reduced by taking care of pregnant women, nutritional guidance and necessary testing and treatment.
• healthy lifestyle: Promoting habits like regular exercise, balanced diet and stress management are beneficial for both mother and baby.
• Help from experts: Enlisting the services of obstetricians, nurses, dietitians and exercise specialists can help deal with obesity and related complications.
• Policies in Health Centers: It is important to implement policies and programs that promote weight management during pregnancy.

before conceiving

Don’t try to lose weight during pregnancy. If you are overweight, plan pregnancy at least a year in advance and try to control your weight during this time. Exercise regularly and reduce your diet by 100 calories per day. These small changes can help you lose about 5 kg in a year.