The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49277

Richard J. Deckelbaum, MD¹, Marion Greenup, MEd, MPH², Diane Thompson, MPH, RD³, and Kellee Bartley². (1) Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, Presbyterian Hospital 15 East, New York, NY 10032, (2) March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, (3) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway N.E., Mailstop K25, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717

The prevalence of obesity is alarmingly high in many countries and increasing rapidly throughout the world. Prepregnancy obesity increases women’s risk during the entire life cycle. Obesity increases risks for infertility, maternal and fetal complications during pregnancy (including congenital malformations) and delivery. Overweight before pregnancy increases adverse effects during pregnancy such as hypertension, gestational diabetes and hospitalization, and these complications increase progressively with increasing prepregnancy weight. A prepregnancy BMI between 26.1 and 29 can increase the risk of neural tube defects by 1.33 times and a BMI >38 by over three fold. Similar effects are seen with other congenital malformations such as NTDs, congenital heart disease and intestinal malformations. During the postpartum period obesity may impair lactation performance and later on, increase risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes.

The March of Dimes convened an international task force of nutrition scientists, administrators, and policy makers to define public health priorities and nutrition strategies that would be most effective in health promotion and morbidity/mortality reduction for women and children. Diminishing the effects of obesity on maternal/infant outcomes was a major emphasis.

Healthy weight before and during pregnancy improves the likelihood of favorable reproductive outcomes. The priority areas for interventions to promote healthy weight are improving diet quality and quantity, and promoting moderate physical activity. New paradigms need to be targeted to all women of childbearing age such as “family-friendly” or “baby-friendly” portion sizes to reduce caloric intake, limits on second helpings, and more physical exercise.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• understand the complications of prepregnancy overweight/obesity
• identify measures that help women achieve a healthy weight
• describe at least two strategies to integrate the recommendations into existing programs that serve the identified populations

Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.