Obesity: Maternal

This chapter presents a summary of the issues raised by the rising prevalence of maternal obesity. It addresses the main public health challenges with reference to current UK maternity care: routine weighing, excessive weight gain and the role of the health professional, the optimal antenatal interventions for maternal obesity and ethnicity and maternal obesity. The public health effects of the obesity epidemic, including the rapid rise in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, are widely acknowledged. The absence of robust evidence-based guidance on acceptable pregnancy weight gain has contributed to the confusion and subsequent lack of advice and support on weight management. Differences in ethnic background in the pregnant population inevitably cause further challenges for health professionals, as obesity prevalence varies according to ethnicity. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research and clinical practice to support health professionals caring for pregnant women with a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m².