Originally published January 19 2006
Overeating can cause pregnancy problems, study finds
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A study conducted at the University of Buffalo has shown that growing numbers of pregnant women are overeating during their term, increasing the risk of complications for both mother and child.
A growing number of women are overweight or obese when they become pregnant, a condition that is risky to both mother and baby, a new study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown.
An analysis of the prepregnancy body mass index of more than 79,000 women in eight counties of Western New York who became pregnant between 1999 and 2003 found that the number of women who were overweight when they became pregnant increased by 11 percent and the number who were obese increased by 8 percent over that time period.
The study appears in the current (Dec. 2005) issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
"This increase in obesity is important to the obstetrician and the patient because obesity can be a high-risk situation in a pregnant woman," said Yeh.
"Obese patients who become pregnant are at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related hypertension, preeclampsia, neonatal death and labor complications."
The researchers analyzed data from the Western New York Perinatal Data System, which contains information on more than 200 demographic, obstetric, medical and other items on each delivery occurring in the 17 hospitals in the region with obstetric services.
Preeclampsia poses a serious health threat to the overweight or obese mother, and if not treated properly can result in death of both mother and baby.
Preeclampsia causes blood vessels to constrict, resulting in high blood pressure and a decrease in blood flow that can affect many organs, including the liver and kidneys.
Gestational diabetes, while less serious, is an increase in blood sugar during pregnancy that returns to normal after delivery but increases the mother's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
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