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Trends in Obesity and Implications for the Fetus

  • Jamie O. Lo
  • Antonio E. Frias
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Nutrition and Health book series (NH)

Abstract

Obesity is a worldwide pandemic. The high prevalence of obesity and the projected increasing trend have adverse implications for pregnant women including thromboembolic complications, gestational diabetes, hypertension, cesarean section, maternal hemorrhage, and infection. Maternal obesity has a measureable impact on infant and future adult health. Offspring are at increased risk for spontaneous miscarriage, fetal malformations, fetal macrosomia, stillbirth, and preterm delivery. This review focuses on the trends in maternal obesity and its implications for maternal and fetal health as well as evidence suggesting that the pre-pregnancy and the prenatal period provide a window of opportunity to intervene and curtail the intergenerational cycle of obesity.

Keywords

Obesity epidemic Fetal programming Increased adult disease risk Obesity Trends 

Abbreviations

ACOG

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

BMI

Body mass index

HSE

Health Survey for England

IOM

Institute of Medicine

PRAMS

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

WHO

World Health Organization

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© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUSA

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