Can Waist Circumference Be Used as an Anthropometric Parameter to Assess the Obesity Related Pregnancy Outcome: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in women of reproductive age. Maternal obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality for both mother and offspring. BMI has been criticized as a limited measure of total obesity. Measurement of waist circumference can be useful in the assessment of abdominal obesity and disease risk. The study is aimed to evaluate the waist circumference as an anthropometric parameter in identifying women at risk of developing obstetric complications. Material and Methods: A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary health care centre on 200 antenatal women of age between 18 to 35 years with singleton pregnancy attending the antenatal clinic before 8 weeks of gestation. Women were divided into two groups. Group I included 100 women with waist circumference < 80 cm and Group II included 100 women with waist circumference ≥ 80 cm. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured and BMI was calculated. All the women were followed throughout their pregnancies as per the routine antenatal follow up. The fetomaternal outcome was recorded and analyzed statistically.

Prediction of preeclampsia by mean arterial pressure and waist circumference

“…Logistic regression analysis revealed that the waist circumference was the only significant univariate predictor of preeclampsia (Z=2.04, P=0.04). The case control study by Anjali Gupta et al 15 PGIMS, Rohtak 2015 was aimed to evaluate the waist circumference as an anthropometric parameter in identifying women at risk of developing obstetric complications. The maternal and neonatal complications like preeclampsia (p = 0.0052, RR 0.5062, 95% CI 0.2935 -0.8728), gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm labor, postdatism, need for induction of labor (p value 0.0081, RR 0.6263, 95% CI 0.4314, 0.9091), instrumental vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery (p = 0.0072, RR 0.5745, 95% CI 0.3696, 0.8929), shoulder dystocia, PPH, macrosomia, neonatal asphyxia, admission to NICU were reported more in Group II women (waist circumference>80 cms) as compared to Group I (waist circumference<80 cms).…”

The Relationship Between Weight Gains During Pregnancy With the Risk of Preeclampsia

“…Obesity is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. (Gupta et al, 2015) did a study in the United States during the time of urban age and discovered that 24.5 percent of women aged 20-44 years are overweight and 23 percent are obese. Excessive eating of red meat, whole grains, desserts, sweet taste, and potatoes, according to research conducted by (Okube & Omandi, 2019), may contribute to long-term weight gain.…”