Oct 10, 2024
Importance of healthy weight in reducing gestational diabetes risks
Siddhartha JanaA study of nearly two million births in Sweden found that about half of gestational diabetes cases could be avoided with normal body weight prior to pregnancy.
Source: Canva
Gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life for affected women.
Source: Canva
Obesity, indicated by a body mass index over 30, is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Source: Canva
The research concluded that maintaining a healthy weight could prevent over a quarter of pre-eclampsia cases, a condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Source: Canva
The study included women born in Sweden and those from regions such as Europe, Latin America, and South Asia, emphasizing the importance of healthy weight across ethnicities.
Source: Canva
Women born in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and North Africa had about four times higher rates of gestational diabetes linked to obesity compared to Swedish-born women.
Source: Canva
The study highlights the need to promote healthy weight earlier in life, as treating established obesity can be challenging.
Source: Canva
Addressing healthy weight in pregnancy may reduce adverse outcomes and health inequalities in reproductive health.
Source: Canva
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