A new study highlights impact of overweight and obesity on pregnancy outcomes in Sweden

A new population-based cohort study from Sweden has revealed significant links between overweight and obesity and adverse pregnancy outcomes, highlighting differences between Swedish-born and migrant women.

Published in The Lancet, the research aims to shed light on how obesity and overweight contribute to health inequalities in high-income countries, particularly affecting pregnancy outcomes.

The study analysed data from 1,973,638 pregnancies among 1,164,783 women in Sweden between 2000 and 2020, using data from various national registries. Researchers sought to quantify the proportion of adverse pregnancy outcomes attributable to overweight and obesity, using measures such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and infant mortality.

According to the study, overweight and obesity were significant contributors to several complications including gestational diabetes, large-for-gestational-age infants, pre-eclampsia, infant mortality, low Apgar scores, severe maternal morbidity and preterm birth.

One of the standout aspects of this study is its focus on maternal birth regions. By categorising women into Swedish-born and seven migrant super-regions, the study found that the impact of obesity on pregnancy outcomes varied between these groups. The differences suggest that targeted interventions could help address reproductive health disparities between migrant and non-migrant women.

The findings suggest that health policy and public health practices should prioritise addressing overweight and obesity, especially among women in high-risk groups, to promote healthier pregnancies and reduce complications. This study reinforces the growing body of evidence that tackling obesity is crucial to improving maternal and infant health outcomes worldwide.