1/4 of women are obese during pregnancy

(Why do women become obese when they are pregnant - and how does it pose a risk to their health and the child?

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According to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23.4% of mothers in the US have a body mass index of 30 or more when they become pregnant. .

Not a woman's obesity only poses risks to her own health during the period of childbirth, but also increases the risk of premature birth, overweight or stillbirth.

Alarming statistics: up to 23.4% of women have a body mass index of 30 or more when they are pregnant

This study looked at births from 2011 in 36 states and Washington, DC, which listed the weight of pregnant women before becoming pregnant.

Among the states analyzed, Utah has the lowest pre-pregnancy obesity rate of 18%. Following the list was Colorado, 18.8% of women were obese before becoming pregnant.

The state has the highest proportion of obese women, 28.6% of South Carolina, followed by North Dakota, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

This analysis also shows that mothers are more likely to be obese if they are over 20 years old, and that black and Hispanic women have a higher obesity rate than white women.

While a woman is expected to gain weight in pregnancy, overeating when you are overweight can cause health risks, said Dr. Jill Rabin, director of emergency and obstetric care in China. Long Island Jewish health center in New Hyde Park, New York said.

Indeed, overweight or obesity during pregnancy is associated with the risk of gestational diabetes, caesarean section and pre-eclampsia.

"It is important for women to keep their body weight at normal levels before becoming pregnant ," Dr. Rabin said.

According to the Institute of Medicine, women with a normal BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 should increase from £ 25 to 35 during pregnancy, and those with a BMI of less than 18.5 are considered underweight. , should increase by 28 to 40 pounds.

Women who are overweight (have a BMI of 25 to 29.9) should gain between 15 and 25 pounds, and obese women with a BMI of 30 become only 11 to 20 pounds during pregnancy.

Currently, nearly 36% of adults in the US are considered obese.