Researchers in the UK have determined a link between obesity and recurrent miscarriage. The study was conducted at St. Mary’s Hospital in London and published in the British Journal of Medicine. Researchers followed a group of women who had suffered at least one miscarriage in the past ten years. The women were followed during their next pregnancy for this study.
The women were divided into groups for the study: underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. To determine obesity, the weight of the participants and their body mass index were used. The body mass index is a measure that uses the height and weight of the person to determine the level of body fat. Obesity is said to be a body mass index over 30.
The women in the study all had previous miscarriage with unexplained causes. Researchers found that the risk of a miscarriage in the current pregnancy was significantly higher for women in the obese group than for women of normal weight. Previous studies have also determined a link between obesity and miscarriage.
Although it is unclear how the information will be used, researchers hope it is used to provide counseling to women about the risk of miscarriage. It is not recommended that women try to lose weight when pregnant, since this carries its own risks. However, if women experiencing recurrent miscarriages have this information, they can make future decisions for weight loss and conception.
This information may also be useful for educating patients on maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise in the months prior to trying to conceive. Since obesity is implicated in fertility problems as well as miscarriage risk, young women should be counseled about these risks at routine visits, prior to pregnancy.
The best scenario is to lose the excess weight prior to getting pregnant. This not only reduces the risk of recurrent miscarriage, but reduces the risks of other complications as well. Obesity increases the risk of pre eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and results in a greater risk of needing medical interventions or a c section during the birth. Getting the weight under control lowers the risks and offers a better chance at a healthy pregnancy, healthy mom and healthy baby.
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