Obesity in pregnancy

Obesity during pregnancy is becoming increasingly prevalent and poses significant risks to both the mother and the foetus. Common complications include gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, preterm birth, foetal macrosomia, and increased rates of caesarean delivery. This study aimed to assess the distribution of obesity classes within our cohort and to compare pregnancy and perinatal complications across these groups. We analysed the medical records of 131 pregnant women with obesity over the past three years. Based on body mass index (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), participants were classified into three obesity classes (class 1: n = 16, class 2: n = 43, class 3: n = 72). The complications investigated included gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, preterm birth, caesarean delivery, and foetal outcomes, including gestational age, Apgar score, birth weight, and macrosomia. In our cohort, 71.76% of pregnancies were complicated by at least one of the studied conditions. Hypertension was identified in 40.45% of cases, with no statistically significant differences among obesity classes (p = 0.1591). Severe preeclampsia occurred in 3.05% of cases, while eclamptic seizures were observed in 0.76%. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 20.61% of patients and showed a statistically significant increase across obesity classes (p = 0.0159), with a threefold higher risk in class 3 obesity compared with classes 1 and 2 combined (p = 0.0112; OR = 3.07; 95% C1 = 1.28–7.13). Gestational diabetes was diagnosed in 15.27% of cases; however, the increase across obesity classes did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.1012). Preterm birth occurred in 12.98% of cases, the caesarean delivery rate was 35.88%, and foetal macrosomia was observed in 18.42% of new-borns. None of these outcomes showed a statistically significant increase across obesity classes (p = 0.5687, p = 0.1044, and p = 0.1685, respectively). Although most complications did not reach statistical significance between obesity classes, women with obesity exhibited a higher tendency toward adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes compared with the general obstetric population. These findings underscore the importance of achieving weight reduction before pregnancy and ensuring close monitoring throughout gestation.