Independent effect of gestational weight gain and prepregnancy obesity on pregnancy outcomes among Saudi women: A sub-cohort analysis from Riyadh mother and baby cohort study (RAHMA)

Abstract

Background Gestational weight gain (GWG) and prepregnancy obesity are garnering more attention as determining factors of pregnancy outcomes when it comes to the wellbeing of both the mother and her baby. This study was conducted to describe the pattern of GWG among participants of Riyadh Mother and Baby Multicenter Cohort Study (RAHMA) and to investigate the detrimental effects of excessive GWG and prepregnancy obesity on pregnancy outcomes. Methods RAHMA is a multicentre cohort study conducted in three hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants were categorized according to the Institute of Medicine into inadequate, adequate, and excessive GWG, and stratified by body mass index (BMI) into under/normal weight, overweight, and obese. To examine the independent effect of maternal prepregnancy obesity and GWG, a multivariate regression model was used and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for each outcome were calculated. Results A total of 7029 participants were included in this study; 31.8% had adequate GWG, 25.9% had excessive GWG and 42.3% had inadequate GWG, while 29.7% had normal BMI, 33.3% were overweight, 34.8% were obese, and 2.2% were underweight. Excessive GWG was independently associated with increased risk of hypertensive events, (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.20–2.63). Obesity was associated with higher risk of gestational diabetes (AOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.76–2.53), hypertensive events (AOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.48–3.01), and delivery by emergency caesarean section (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.35–1.97). Infants of obese women had increased odds of macrosomia (AOR 3.11, 95% CI 1.94–4.99) and lower odds of low birth weight (AOR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.53–0.88). Conclusion In comparison to excessive GWG, which increases the risk of hypertensive events during pregnancy, prepregnancy obesity is associated with more adverse outcomes including GDM, hypertensive events in pregnancy and emergency CS.

Fetal macrosomia: analysis of the maternal and neonatal outcomes and complications

“…The frequency of pregnancy, which was accompanied by gestational and pregestational diabetopathy was 4.3% in our study, which coincided with the data of previous studies (Fayed A et al, 2022). Diabetes mellitus significantly more often accompanied macrosomal pregnancies.…”

Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index, Gestational Weight Gain and Children’s Cognitive Development: A Birth Cohort Study

“…In recent years, studies have found that the incidence of excessive GWG is as high as 50% in reproductive-age women and in pregnant women [ 3 , 4 ], and about one-quarter (25.6%) of the population is obese before pregnancy [ 5 ]. Maternal obesity before pregnancy or excessive GWG during pregnancy can lead to a variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as hypertensive events, gestational diabetes, emergency cesarean section and macrosomia [ 1 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Effect of Educational Session on Knowledge, Self-Care Practices and Perception Regarding Gestational Weight Gain among Advanced Age Pregnant Women

“…The IOM guidelines recommend the following cut-off values for adequate GWG: a total weight gain of 12.5-18 Kg for underweight BMI women (≤18.5 kg/m²), a total weight gain of 11.5-16 kg for normal BMI women (18.5-24.9 kg/m²) , a total weight gain of 7-11.5 kg for overweight women (BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m²) , a total weight gain of 5-9 kg for all obese women (BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater) (Fayed et al, 2022). (Anita & Weeks, 2018) are reflecting upon GWG, it is crucial to recognize that discordant GWG is both an independent and a modifiable risk factor for many pregnancy complications (Chamara et al, 2019).…”