In recent years, there has been a large increase in the prevalence流行，普遍 of overweight and obese¹肥胖的 women of childbearing age, with approximately大约，近似 51% of non-pregnant women ages 20 to 39 being classified as overweight or obese. A new article published in the journal Nursing for Women's Health finds that obesity² in pregnant women is associated with pregnancy³ complications并发症, birth defects, as well as a greater risk of childhood and adult obesity in infants born to obese mothers.

Merrie Rebecca Walters, RN, and Julie Smith Taylor, PhD, RNC, WHNP-BC, reviewed the potential consequences of maternal母亲的 obesity. Results show that obese women are more likely to have an infant with a neural⁵ tube神经管 defect缺点，缺陷, heart defects, or multiple anomalies异常现象，反常现象 than women with a normal BMI身体质量指数.

Obese pregnant women also put themselves at a higher risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes妊娠糖尿病, hypertension, preeclampsia子痫前期, induction⁷ of labor引产术, cesarean delivery剖腹产, and postpartum hemorrhage产后出血, compared with women with normal pregnancy body mass indexes.

Additionally, information from the article explains that obesity among pregnant mothers is linked to childhood obesity in their infants. Obesity during pregnancy more than doubles the risk of obesity in children at two to four years of age. Also, the risk of obesity in children born to obese mothers may extend into their adolescence青春期, with the risk of obesity during adulthood¹⁰ being greater among obese children.

The article emphasizes the need for women to consult with their healthcare providers about what their ideal pre-conception weight should be. "Assisting women of childbearing age to achieve and maintain a healthful weight prior to conception will potentially minimize health risks to both mothers and infants," the authors note.

Additionally, strategies for breaking the cycle of obesity include breastfeeding母乳喂养. Research has shown that mothers who breastfeed have a significantly higher weight loss than mothers who formula feed from 1 to 12 months postpartum产后的. Also, breastfeeding may be beneficial in reducing excessive weight gain in infants, therefore reducing the risk of future childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes糖尿病.

"Health care providers must recognize the association between maternal⁴ obesity and childhood obesity and work to break the cycle of obesity before it becomes the leading cause of mortality in the United States."