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Prepregnancy Obesity Prevalence in the United States, 2004–2005

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Abstract

Objective To provide a current estimate of the prevalence of prepregnancy obesity in the United States. Methods We analyzed 2004–2005 data from 26 states and New York City (n = 75,403 women) participating in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, an ongoing, population-based surveillance system that collects information on maternal behaviors associated with pregnancy. Information was obtained from questionnaires self-administered after delivery or from linked birth certificates; prepregnancy body mass index was based on self-reported weight and height. Data were weighted to provide representative estimates of all women delivering a live birth in each particular state. Results In this study, about one in five women who delivered were obese; in some state, race/ethnicity, and Medicaid status subgroups, the prevalence was as high as one-third. State-specific prevalence varied widely and ranged from 13.9 to 25.1%. Black women had an obesity prevalence about 70% higher than white and Hispanic women (black: 29.1%; white: 17.4%; Hispanic: 17.4%); however, these race-specific rates varied notably by location. Obesity prevalence was 50% higher among women whose delivery was paid for by Medicaid than by other means (e.g., private insurance, cash, HMO). Conclusion This prevalence makes maternal obesity and its resulting maternal morbidities (e.g., gestational diabetes mellitus) a common risk factor for a complicated pregnancy.

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Acknowledgments

All authors had full access to all the data used in this analysis and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Data from the PRAMS included in this study are collected at the state level by the following collaborators and their staff: Alaska, Kathy Perham-Hester; Arkansas, Mary McGehee; Colorado, Alyson Shupe; Florida, Jamie Fairclough; Georgia, Carol Hoban; Hawaii, Sharon Sirling; Illinois, Theresa Sandidge; Louisiana, Joan Wightkin; Maine, Kim Haggan; Maryland, Diana Cheng; Michigan, Violanda Grigorescu; Minnesota, Jan Jernell; Mississippi, Vernesia Wilson; Nebraska, Jennifer Severe-Oforah; New Jersey, Lakota Kruse; New Mexico, Eirian Coronado; New York State, Anne Radigan-Garcia; New York City, Candace Mulready-Ward; North Carolina, Paul Buescher; Ohio, Lily Tatham; Oklahoma, Dick Lorenz; Oregon, Kenneth Rosenberg; Rhode Island, Sam Viner-Brown; South Carolina, Jim Ferguson; Utah, Laurie Baksh; Washington, Linda Lohdefinck; West Virginia, Melissa Baker; CDC PRAMS Team, Applied Sciences Branch, Division of Reproductive Health. We also thank Brian Morrow, MS, and Denise D’Angelo, MPH, for their assistance with this analysis and William M. Callaghan, MD, for his thoughtful review and comment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop K-23, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Susan Y. Chu, Shin Y. Kim & Connie L. Bish

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  1. Susan Y. Chu
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Correspondence to Susan Y. Chu.

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The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Chu, S.Y., Kim, S.Y. & Bish, C.L. Prepregnancy Obesity Prevalence in the United States, 2004–2005. Matern Child Health J 13, 614–620 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0388-3

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