Obesity has been linked to increased odds of multiple pregnancy complications, and a new study shows that the risks apply to adolescents and adults.
In a study of adolescents in first time mothers who gave birth at an urban hospital, investigators found that obese girls are at greater risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy or requiring a cesarean delivery.
In the past, some major concerns with teenage mothers have a tendency to poor nutrition and inadequate weight gain during pregnancy.
However, the increasing rate of adolescent obesity can “justify a change in our approach to include the specific risks of obesity,” the researchers report in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
For the study, Dr. Sina Haeri, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his colleagues reviewed the records of 458 adolescents who gave birth in Washington, DC, the hospital more than four years. Most mothers were African American.
In general, the study found, girls who were obese before pregnancy are four times more likely than their normal weight to develop gestational diabetes – a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy of a woman and poses the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later.
Obese girls were also about four times more likely to need a cesarean delivery, which echoes findings from studies of adult women. The high rate of Caesarean section is particularly in relation to girls, and his colleagues note Haeri, given their higher risk of post-operative problems, such as infection.
The results, according to investigators, underscore the importance of the prevention of adolescent obesity and highlight the need for research into the optimum weight range for pregnant teenagers.
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