Poor mums more likely to become obese

A new study in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, reveals how women from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds are most at risk of developing maternal obesity.

A total of 36, 821 women at a maternity unit in Middlesbrough were surveyed over a 15-year period, from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2004. Researchers working closely with Dr Helen Simpson, consultant obstetrician, found that the incidence of maternal obesity at the start of pregnancy is increasing and accelerating. Maternal obesity has risen from 9.9% in 1990 to 16% in 2004. Researchers predict that if this trend continues, by 2010, 22% of pregnant women will be obese, thus putting a strain on maternity services.

The research has also revealed the risk factors determining maternal obesity, which include health inequalities and socio-economic deprivation. Women who were young, single and in education, or, who were older, separated, divorced, widowed or participating in education were found to have significantly lower rates of obesity.

Researcher Nicola Heslehurst, from the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Teesside, said, “The trends we have identified are from a primarily deprived population with limited ethnic diversity. There is an absence of national data on obesity in pregnancy so we are currently recruiting maternity units to identify the trends throughout England."

Professor Carolyn Summerbell who heads up the Centre for Food, Physical Activity, and Obesity research at the University of Teesside, said “Given the concerning elevation in the incidence of maternal obesity, future research programmes aimed at preventing the continuation of this trend are imperative."

Professor John Wilkinson, Director of North East Public Health Observatory (NEPHO), said: “We knew there was a problem with childhood obesity and with older adults but maternal obesity is something that has crept up on us. We had anecdotal evidence and were aware that heavier women were coming in to book a pregnancy, but we needed some hard evidence."

Professor Phil Steer, editor-in-chief of BJOG, said, “This new research shows that obesity levels among pregnant women are increasing. This is a serious public health time bomb and of major anxiety to healthcare professionals and providers. At a time when NHS resources are stretched, the scale of the problem in future years will need to be scoped, to identify ‘at-risk' groups and help plan service delivery more effectively."