Obesity in pregnancy may up risk of some birth defects

11 April 2009

To the long list of risks associated with obesity, add a wider than expected range of birth defects that is more likely to occur in babies born to obese women.

A new analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women who were obese (defined as having a BMI of 29 or greater) before pregnancy were:

More than twice as likely to have a baby born with spina bifida
Nearly twice as likely to have a baby with other neural tube defects
More likely to have a baby with heart problems, cleft palate or cleft lip, abnormal rectum or anus development, and hydrocephaly (excess fluid build-up in the brain)

The researchers offered three theories that might explain their findings:

Many obese women might also have undiagnosed diabetes, which can lead to abnormal development of a foetus
Obese mums-to-be might be eating a diet that is not as nutritionally sound as that of normal weight women
Obese women are more likely to be missing nutrients like folic acid that are vital to preventing birth defects such as neural tube defects

They also noted a slightly higher risk for neural tube defects and heart problems in babies born to women who were overweight but not obese, but said further studies are needed to confirm a link.

One of the most important things women who are planning to start a family can do to help prevent serious birth defects is to get enough folic acid every day – especially before conception and during early pregnancy. Studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.

Women trying to conceive also should try to maintain their recommended weight and ask their doctors if they should be tested for undiagnosed diabetes. And all pregnant women should undergo a glucose screening for gestational diabetes, a simple prenatal test that involves drinking a sugary liquid and then having blood sugar levels checked.

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born – and is manageable when caught and treated early – but many women with the condition may have it again with future pregnancies, and also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.

(Source: Nemours Foundation: Journal of the American Medical Association: April 2009)

Related Diseases

Spina Bifida

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Article Comments

Comment from: Michelle Obi | 12/04/2009 7:12:04 AM
What a load of crap. most women in our family are what you call obese including myself and none of us have had any babies born with defects. BUT! The so called perfect women in our society are the ones i know who have the babies with defects. Where the hell do they get their so called "facts" from? Just because we are obese does not mean we all sit there eating junk food all day. I know many skinny women that are classed as perfect who eat more junk food than many obese people. Obesity is not always caused through eating junk food and the wrong foods. These so called experts should be putting their time into cancer research etc. and leave us obese people alone. Both my grandmothers were obese and both lived into their 90's with no health problems at all. i've been big all my life and have no health issues either unlike my fellow worker who falls into the perfect catagory and has the worst health of anyone i know. These experts think they know all and to be honest they know very little at all.