Pregnant women who are obese have a higher risk of premature birth
It is well known that obesity acts unfavorably on the health of pregnant mothers, but recent studies have shown that in addition to developing hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular problems and giving birth by cesarean section, there are an increased risk of giving birth to a premature child, whose health is often degraded.
The study
Several researchers have looked into the subject and are interested in the relationship between obesity and preterm delivery. Recently, a Swedish study led by Sven Cnattingius, carried out on 10,000 Swedish women demonstrated that the higher the weight of the mother, the greater the risk of giving birth prematurely; 4,500 of these women gave birth to moderately premature babies (32-37 weeks), 500 women gave birth to extremely premature babies (28-32 weeks), and 250 of them gave birth to extremely premature babies before 28 weeks. These births all present, with a higher risk for extreme premature babies, deficiencies and risks of death.
During this same Swedish study, an attempt was made to assess the BMI of one million five hundred thousand pregnant women. The results compared with pregnant women with a normal BMI were astonishing; Indeed, it turned out that women with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 have a 25% risk of giving birth prematurely, while those with a BMI greater than 30 see their risk of giving birth before term increase by 75. %. This risk is essentially due to the many diseases linked to obesity and not to obesity itself.
Moreover, other American studies as well as research conducted by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center endorse this obesity-prematurity relationship, and show that maternal obesity leads not only to prematurity, but also to developmental delays. mental related to inflammation that affects the brain of the fetus during pregnancy.
To remedy this growing problem, it was deemed essential to raise awareness among pregnant women of the danger of obesity so that they try to maintain a normal BMI during pregnancy.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.