Impact of Maternal Obesity on Maternal and Foetal Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study from Northern India

Authors: Grewal AK* , Puri S and Taneja

DOI: 10.23880/oajg-16000301

Volume 10, Issue 2

Abstract

Background: Maternal obesity is a growing global health concern, particularly among women of childbearing age, with implications for maternal and foetal outcomes. This study aimed to determine the incidence of obesity in pregnant women and compare maternal and foetal outcomes between obese and non-obese groups. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, over one year. Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were recruited at their first antenatal visit and categorized into obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) and non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m²) groups based on pre-pregnancy BMI. Participants were followed per standard antenatal protocols until four weeks postpartum. Maternal lipid profiles, antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum complications, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcomes were assessed. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression (SPSS v21), with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of 150 participants, 32.7% were obese, significantly higher than India’s national average. Obese women were predominantly urban, upper-middle class, and older (mean age 29.04 ± 5.48 years in BMI < 30 vs. 31.80 ± 6.00 years in BMI ≥ 30, p < 0.01). They exhibited higher rates of gestational hypertension (59.2%), hypothyroidism (36.7%). Delivery complications included increased emergency caesarean sections and anaesthesia issues. Neonatal outcomes were worse, with prematurity (51.0%), hypoglycaemia, and NICU admissions (46.9%) significantly higher (p < 0.01). Paradoxically, cord blood lipids were lower in neonates of obese mothers, suggesting impaired placental transport. Conclusion: Maternal obesity significantly increases the risk of hypertensive disorders, hypothyroidism, and delivery complications, while neonates face higher prematurity and NICU admission rates. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to manage obesity in pregnancy. Lower cord blood lipids highlight potential placental dysfunction, warranting further research.

Keywords: Maternal Obesity; Foetal Outcomes; Gestational Hypertension; Prematurity; NICU Admission; Placental Transport

View PDF