Assessing the Impact of Obesity on Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes among Saudi Women

Abstract

Background: The rising prevalence of obesity has a significant impact on obstetrics practice regarding maternal and perinatal complications includes recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and prolonged labor. Objective: To assess the impact of obesity on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes among Saudi women. Methods: The study was conducted at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Jeddah. Design: A cross-sectional retrospective design. A total number of 186 participants were recruited from July to December 2018 according to eligibility criteria. The data were collected retrospectively by a review of the chart records of the labor and delivery department. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 31.94 (5.67) years old; two-thirds were in obesity class I. There was a significant association between obesity and pre-existing thyroid disease and induced hypertension class III. However, episiotomy showed that obesity class III was significantly different from obesity class II. Conclusion: This study concludes obesity affects the outcomes of pregnant Saudi associations between obesity and preeclampsia, perineal tears, and episiotomy variables, and other variables reflect no associations. Recommendations: Further studies are needed to generalize the results. This study endorses the pregnant women start the antenatal follow-up from 1st trimester so, the data will be available on the system for research.

Maternal obesity: A potential disruptor of female fertility and current interventions to reduce associated risks

“…Recently published clinical data on Saudi women showed several pregnancy-related complications, including preeclampsia, perineal tears, and episiotomy after ART. 107 Notably, mothers with obesity have fewer chances of achieving clinical pregnancy after IVF compared to normal-weight women, and there may be a higher chance of miscarriage even after getting pregnant, [108][109][110] as demonstrated by a lower pregnancy rate in mothers with obesity after ART. 111 A recent cohort study was conducted on Chinese women who underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer, and pregnancy outcomes were measured.…”

“…Pregnancy‐related complications in mothers with obesity were also observed in in vitro trials using assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Recently published clinical data on Saudi women showed several pregnancy‐related complications, including preeclampsia, perineal tears, and episiotomy after ART 107 . Notably, mothers with obesity have fewer chances of achieving clinical pregnancy after IVF compared to normal‐weight women, and there may be a higher chance of miscarriage even after getting pregnant, 108–110 as demonstrated by a lower pregnancy rate in mothers with obesity after ART 111 .…”

Prevalence and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Associated with Maternal Obesity in the Bamenda Regional Hospital

“…Obesity is defined by the World Health Organization as an excessive or abnormal accumulation of fat that carries a risk to health [1]. It is measured using several parameters such as the Body Mass Index (BMI), the waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, skin fold thickness and percentage of body fat [2].…”

“…The main factors responsible for obesity are sedentary lifestyle, increased dietary fat intake and genetic factors [2]. Other risk factors include socio-demographic factors such as a low socio-economic status (which is implicated in all forms of malnutrition), older age, urban settlement, higher level of education, easy access to junk food and multiparity [8].…”

Babies born to obese mothers: what are the characteristics and outcomes?

“…In Indonesia, overweight and obesity is generally determined based on a body mass index (BMI) of 25.1-27 kg/m 2 and >27 kg/m 2 [2], [3]. Other parameters that can be used to determine obesity status are waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio, skinfold, and body fat percentage measurement [4]. Obesity has become a global health burden and is a risk factor in pregnancy associated with short-term and long-term complications for mother and baby [5], [6].…”