Weight Loss Before Conception: Having A Healthy Baby Is Not Guaranteed

Obesity has become a serious issue around the globe. People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are said to be at higher risk for obesity and many chronic diseases. The major reason for such rapid growth in the rate of obese people is the unhealthy lifestyle of people.

Weight Loss Before Conception: Having A Healthy Baby Is Not Guaranteed

Even though men outnumber women in the percentage of being obese, it has adverse effects on women mostly pregnant ones.

For many years, the optimal body weight of pregnant women was a major topic of contention. It was always believed that underweight or malnutrition women tend to give birth to small children and this low birth weight is associated with increased child illness and death rate. Several suggestions for weight gain during pregnancy have also been made for years.

From a recent study, it is seen that one of the major health issues in women is obesity among pregnant women. Obese women are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Also, the rate of obesity in pregnancy is increasing which can create an unfavorable impact on maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. It has become a major health issue in pregnant women.

Obesity in pregnancy can increase the risk of complications like gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, delivery of large-for-GA infants, and a higher incidence of congenital defects. All these are commonly seen more in obese women rather than those who have normal BMI.

The prevalence of obesity among women of childbearing potential has increased significantly in recent decades. This is a major concern because a high BMI before pregnancy increases the risk of maternal perinatal complications like the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, recurrent miscarriage, cardiac dysfunction, sleep apnea, and difficult vaginal delivery. In such complex cases, a c-section will be required, but even in that case, there is a risk of C-section complications, such as ulcerative colitis.

In addition, your pre-pregnancy BMI will influence your weight gain recommendations during pregnancy. If you have a BMI in the range of 25 to 29.9, your healthcare provider will advise you to gain 15 to 25 pounds (about 7 to 11 kg). If you have a BMI of 30 or more, your healthcare provider will advise you to gain 11 to 20 pounds (about 5 to 9 kg).

Available evidence on the short- and long-term health impact of mother and child now favors targeted actions for pre-pregnancy weight control and obesity prevention in women of childbearing age. Furthermore, suggestions that maternal obesity may transmit obesity risks to children through non-Mendelian mechanisms require further long-term investigations.

The study aimed to assess the impact of pre-conception weight loss on some health outcomes in obese mothers and children. It is difficult to get pregnant if a woman is obese or overweight. Ovulation is a difficult dance between hormone, progesterone, and estrogen levels.

Fat cells often produce high levels of estrogen and can act on the body in an attempt to ovulate. Although an unbalanced hormone level does not always mean that you will have problems getting pregnant, you may have less regular ovulation and menstrual periods, which can make it harder to get pregnant.

Obesity occurs in one in three women of childbearing age. Currently, guidelines for obesity management in women planning a pregnancy are based on consensus and there is no supporting evidence. Both mother and fetus need to have evidence-based weight loss products that reduce the risk of pregnancy-related obesity.

Women should be informed before pregnancy that they should be as healthy as possible before pregnancy, including having a normal BMI, eating a balanced diet, and participating in regular exercise. It is also important that state and federal officials recognize the impact of obesity-complicated pregnancies on future populations and health care costs.

A long-term national information campaign is needed to exploit women’s interest in a healthy pregnancy as much as possible by providing them with the information they need to adapt and have a normal BMI before thinking about pregnancy. Only a national strategy can change pre-pregnancy weight gain and inform women about a significant increase in risks to themselves and their children.

Weight loss before pregnancy is a great way to reduce the risk of obesity problems. A small weight loss can improve your overall health and lead to a healthy pregnancy.