There have been countless clinical studies that have touted the health risks associated with obesity. From an elevated probability of contracting some form of heart disease, a variety of cancer types, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, to name a few.

Additionally, while many women are familiar with the fact that obesity increases the risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy, what about the pregnancy risks for women who only carry a modest amount of excess body weight?

According to a new study, women who are overweight but not necessarily obese are more likely to increase their pregnancy complication risks during pregnancy when compared to women of a normal body weight, especially if their blood sugar levels are moderately elevated as well.

Heavier Mothers Equal Heavier Babies, Study Concludes

During the study conducted by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, medicine-endocrinology professor Dr. Boyd Metzger and a team of other researchers analyzed the health data of 23,000 women from 9 different countries. Among the study participants:

• 6% were overweight and had moderately elevated blood sugar levels

• 13% were obese

• 16% had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes

After analyzing the data, the researchers determined that women who were overweight and had moderately elevated blood sugar levels tended to have heavier babies than mothers who were totally healthy.

Moms who were both obese and diagnosed with gestational diabetes had babies that weighed 12 ounces more on average than babies born to healthy mothers.

Moms who were overweight and with elevated blood sugar, but not obese or diabetic, had babies that weighed 7.5 ounces more on average than babies born to healthy mothers.

The Difference Between “Overweight” and “Obese”

According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals who have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight, while individuals with a BMI value above 30 are considered to be obese.

What’s Wrong with Having a Heavier Baby?

Babies of wildly varying weight are born every day naturally, and having a heavier baby is not necessarily a bad thing. In light of these facts, why are researchers concerned?

According to Dr. Metzger, larger babies are more likely to be injured during vaginal delivery, subsequently increasing the likelihood that a Caesarian section will be required. These propositions are risky for both the baby and the mother.

Babies born to overweight women with heightened blood sugar levels are also more likely to have low blood sugar and high levels of insulin, according to the researchers. These factors will increase the baby’s likelihood of developing diabetes and obesity later in life.

More Research is Necessary

According to Dr. Metzger, overweight women with elevated blood sugar levels are usually ignored in discussions of pregnancy complications because they’re not quite obese and not quite diabetic. However, Metzger said that the study confirms that women who are close to having these conditions also carry significant risks. Metzger believes that women in this category require attention just as urgently as obese and diabetic women.

Additional studies are currently working on ways to treat pregnant women who are also overweight, obese, pre-diabetic and diabetic. However, in the meantime, the medical researchers advise all women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant to consume a calorie-conscious diet, engage in moderate exercise and avoid gaining excessive weight.

Obesity and Pregnancy Complications: The Bottom Line

Researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered that women who are overweight and have modestly elevated blood sugar levels are more likely to have heavier babies and pregnancy complications than women who are completely healthy and of a normal weight.

The full text of the study can be read in the medical journal Diabetes Care.