Obesity in pregnancy
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 17:55

Obesity in pregnancy increases inflammatory markers in amniotic fluid and may have a lifetime impact on children. Another example showing that it isn't the genes but the behaviour that is passed along in families in the pattern of obesity

In this recent article published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology, scientists in Cadiz, Spain conducted a study  "To estimate the relationship between different adipokines and proinflammatory mediators in amniotic fluid and maternal body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)(2).
Seventy pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis for clinical reasons at 15-20 weeks of gestation were divided into two groups according to their BMI: a control group with normal weight (BMI 20-24.9, n=35) and a case group (BMI 25 or higher, n=35)."

"The two groups were further divided into two subgroups: overweight (BMI 25-29.9, n=22) or obese (BMI 30 or more, n=13). Comparisons of amniotic fluid cytokines (tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-8, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, resistin, and leptin) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were performed. The relationships between variables and maternal BMI were also analysed. There were significant differences in amniotic fluid CRP and TNF-alpha levels among the studied groups: CRP, 0.018 (+/- 0.010), 0.019 (+/- 0.013), and 0.035 (+/- 0.028) mg/dL (P=.007); and TNF-alpha, 3.98 (+/- 1.63), 3.53 (+/- 1.38), and 5.46 (+/- 1.69) pg/mL (P=.003), for lean, overweight, and obese women, respectively.

Both pro-inflammatory mediators increased in women with obesity compared with both overweight and normal women (P=.01 and P=.008 for CRP; P=.003 and P=.01 for TNF-a!, respectively). There were significant correlations between maternal BMI and amniotic fluid CRP (r=0.396; P=.001), TNF-alpha (r=0.357; P=.003) and resistin (r=0.353; P=.003)," wrote F. Bugatto and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Amniotic fluid CRP and TNF-alpha levels are increased in obese women, and both are related to maternal BMI, which Suggests in-utero exposure to higher pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators in foetuses of these women. (Obstet Gynecol 2010;115:127-33)."
Bugatto and colleagues published their study in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Second-Trimester Amniotic Fluid Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Levels in Normal and Overweight Women. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2010;115(1):127-133).

Heather's comment:

Exposure to inflammation in-utero sets the child up for a lifetime of degenerative diseases. Best to lose weight before pregnancy and minimise pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators during pregnancy.

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jadesmith said:

What is obesity
Obesity is always misunderstood. Many people do not know actually what is obesity. A person whose weight is 20% or more above the normal weight is an obese person. Obesity is an excess proportion of total body fat. When you take in more calories than you burn off, you gain weight. How you eat, how active you are, and other things affect how your body uses calories and whether you gain weight. If your family members are obese, you may have inherited a tendency to gain weight. And your family also helps form your eating and lifestyle habits, which can lead to obesity.
http://www.fightobesity.net/what-is-obesity.html
06 December 2010

Jehnavi said:

Obesity
The risk of rapid weight gain in pregnancy is that every single complication of pregnancy gets worse for both the mother and the baby. The benefits of regular weighing of women would be enormous. It would create awareness of the problem and lead to measures being put in place to reduce the risk.The obesity in pregnancy leads to the death of the mother or baby too. the mother should get checked weight in the pregnancy.
09 December 2010

Peter said:

The key to weight, health and energy
Most do not realise that the key to weight and health and energy is their thyroid - and whilst retraining the habits is a start - what really needs to happen is the body working well.

Why is there fat where it is - and why when all efforts to lose it by rigidly following diets and being 'good' and even obsessing about food and doing vast amounts of exercise - if you have the energy - it is STILL THERE?

Getting medical tests done will not help here as what is needed is a WELLNESS model - and medicine is more involved in crisis care. Starting with the inside can mean the weight melts off. I have written the energy explanation for this in 'Helping Yourself to Health and Vitality' found elsewhere on this site.

Acupuncturists all talk about supporting normal and helping the body to help itself. Invariably the best ways are return to nature- no expenses - just living well with simple choices.

What stops this?
The temperature of the food/liquids often - please see what I have written elsewhere about cold and what it does to mess with our body's wisdom.

What else upsets the metabolism is the invasion of far too much sugar - on all forms - especially as fruit and fruit juices. Often just knocking off all the sweet taste - what all other diets don't - start addressing the inner energy imbalances.

Easy way to lose weight?
Focus on eating for wellness.

Get the metabolism on your side - which means looking after the sleep and water intake and protein and eating FAT to ensure the hormones have a foundation - and avoiding all sweet and all grains. . . it works . . .

Consult the eating plan found elsewhere in this site. . .
Happy munching .. . veggies and protein and fat - a little often . . .
11 December 2010

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