Preconception Care of the Obese Woman

Abstract

One third of obese women report obtaining preconception care. Only one third of those women state that weight issues were discussed at their visit. Obese women should be educated about the risks of pregnancy so they can make informed choices as to whether and when to conceive. Women should be encouraged to mitigate risk by losing weight and exercising before conception and understand complications of pregnancy within specific pregravid body mass index strata. This manuscript describes the risks and provides guidance on topics to include in the preconception visit of an obese woman.

Interconception Care for Primary Care Providers: Consensus Recommendations on Preconception and Postpartum Management of Reproductive-Age Patients With Medical Comorbidities

“… 80 Therefore, it is imperative for PCPs to increase their focus on interventions to improve preconception BMI, 81 especially for those patients who do not recognize obesity as a medical problem or understate its significance in pregnancy. 82 , 83 Primary care providers can also screen for comorbid conditions, which are more often found in the obese population. Define obesity.…”

“…A target weight loss of 5% to 10% improves fertility and pregnancy outcomes. 82 , 86 Know the most effective weight loss strategies and implications for reproductive planning. Changes in diet alone and diet plus exercise are more effective than exercise alone, 34 with even better results from intensive multimodal interventions that include lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, and behavior.…”

“…Involve nutritionists, exercise physiologists, behavioral health providers, endocrinologists, or obesity medicine specialists for the optimal care of patients in the interconception period. 82 Manage gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention. …”

“…80 Therefore, it is imperative for PCPs to increase their focus on interventions to improve preconception BMI, 81 especially for those patients who do not recognize obesity as a medical problem or understate its significance in pregnancy. 82,83 Primary care providers can also screen for comorbid conditions, which are more often found in the obese population. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' definition of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy uses blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg, which is based on the 2003 Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7) guideline criteria for hypertension.…”

The Relationship between Constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the First Trimester and Pregnancy Symptoms: A Longitudinal Observational Study

“…Prenatal care and neonatal care have been used to prevent and reduce adverse pregnant outcomes [ 9 – 11 ]. Preconception care also was used to supplement and increase the likelihood of a desire and healthy pregnancy and a healthy infant by providing timely and exact information and intervention [ 12 , 13 ].…”