Changes in body mass index among pregnant women during labor over four decades: a retrospective longitudinal analysis.
retrospective_cohort · Level III
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41639302.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41366-026-02021-6 and PMC identifier 13056560.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The global rise in maternal obesity presents a growing public health challenge, with significant implications for pregnancy outcomes. This study offers a comprehensive retrospective analysis of changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) among pregnant women during labor over four decades. BMI data were retrospectively collected from 13,193 pregnant women divided into three cohorts: Group 0 (1986-1990), Group 1 (2009-2013), and Group 2 (2024). Mean BMI increased significantly from 23.75 kg/m² in Group 0 to 27.33 kg/m² in Group 2 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of obesity rose more than fivefold, from 4.87% to 25.76%. Regression analysis confirmed a linear and statistically significant upward trajectory across all groups. The sustained increase in maternal BMI underscores the urgency of implementing targeted interventions, including preconception counseling and personalized antenatal care, to mitigate the adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with elevated BMI.
Medical subject headings
- Body Mass Index
- Delivery, Obstetric
- Pregnancy in Obesity