A latest study says that if females are overweight before pregnancy than they have greater risk of delivering babies with a number of birth abnormalities in comparison to the females who have normal weight.
The study results involved approximately 15,000 females from 8 states, discovered defects of spine, heart, arms, legs & stomach, based on earlier research which showed heart & spinal abnormality. Higher are the chances of getting the problem of spina bifida.
Kim Waller the lead researcher of the study told that the obese females should not worry by these latest discoveries as the risk of giving birth to babies with a birth abnormality is quite less, and the reason of these major of birth abnormalities is not known yet.
The study result suggests that females should try to have normal weight which their body requires.
The study research says that nearly 4% obese females before pregnancy give births to kids with some major birth abnormalities, while women with normal-weight have this risk by 3%.
Obese females have chances of giving birth to babies with the problem of spina bifida by at least twice, in comparison to women with normal weight. Spina bifida is one of the disabling birth abnormalities in U.S. It can result in paralysis, problems in learning and also various other complications.
Females who were quite heavy have 60% chances of giving births to babies who have a rare abnormality in which abdominal organs of body come out through the navel, 40% have heart abnormalities, 36% have short legs or arms, & 20% can have numerous gastrointestinal problems.
Dr. Alan Peaceman who is a professor at Northwestern University said in a prepared statement:
This is probably an under-recognized finding which I suspect will be corroborated by other research in the future and something we will need to talk to our patients about.
The research mentions that rise in obesity may lead to increase in the birth abnormalities. This particular research is just a part of NBDPS; it involved females who conceived between Oct 1997 and Dec 2002. Nearly 10,249 females who participated in the study, delivered their newborns with at least one birth abnormality. They were compared with nearly 4,065 females who have quite healthy new born kids.
Females were asked few questions like — what was their height & weight before getting pregnant. The team of researchers found out that nearly 2,312 females were overweight before their pregnancy.
The reason behind the association between obesity and the birth abnormality are still unknown. But in some of the cases there is possibility that few females might had diabetes which wasn’t diagnosed, that can be associated with birth abnormalities.
The study researcher’s mentioned that weight of participants was not taken during pregnancy; it is quite possible that few mums might have used harmful methods for losing weight before conceiving or during their early trimesters, when major birth abnormality can occur.
It is suggested to overweight pregnant females that don’t use diet pills, don’t fast or use other methods to reduce weight as it can lead to major birth abnormality.
The study appeared in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine & was funded by the CDC.
