Overweight and obesity in Cuban pregnant women

Introduction: Obesity and overweight prevalences among pregnant women and their associated complications such as diabetes gestational, high blood pressure, macro fetus, cesarean required deliveries, and some others adverse effects both for mothers and their babies are increasing during the last years. Objective: To describe the prevalence of obesity and overweight among Cuban pregnant women and their possible relationship to some other variables. Methods: Data were obtained from a secondary analysis of the pregnant women included in the Sentinel Sites located all over the country in the two health areas of each province with the higher and the lower prevalences of low birth weight. Data included time at which prenatal care was initiated, body weight at the beginning of the pregnant period, hemoglobin levels at the beginning and at the third trimester and birth weight. Variables were compared between "normal" and overweight and obese pregnant women using ANOVA and Chi squared tests. Results: 21,7% of pregnant women initiated their pregnancy with overweight and 7,0% were found to be obese. Age average and weight gain during the pregnancy period as compared with the standards were higher in obese and overweight pregnant women. Also the percentage of overweight babies was higher in the group of obese and overweight pregnant women. Discussion: Overweight and obesity prevalences are very high for pregnant women and this is related to the same results found for the women population in Cuba. It was also demonstrated that about half of both normal and obese and overweight pregnant women do not gain enough weight as it is established according to their nutritional status at the beginning of the pregnant period. Higher macrosomia percentages among new born babies was found among obese and overweight mothers indicating that maternal overweight and obesity are considered as risk factors of metabolic disorders in the new generations from the beginning of their life. This shows the importance of the prenatal period for the prevention of chronic diseases. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are associated to a body weight gain grater than recommendations and with an increased prevalence of babies with high birth weight. Low percentages of overweight and obesity in adolescent pregnant women was also found.