Weight plays an important role in a healthy pregnancy. Women whose weight is below normal for their height are at a greater risk for premature delivery and having a smaller-than-average baby. Overweight or obese women are at higher risk for having complications during pregnancy, a difficult delivery, and a baby who weighs more than average—and their babies are more likely to have weight problems as adults. Both of these extremes can lead to stunted growth and development in the womb. Babies who experience growth restriction in the womb have higher risks of developing chronic disease as adults. So an unhealthy weight isn’t just a threat to your pregnancy—it is a factor that can influence your child’s health into adulthood.
We often have subjective ideas of how much weight is too little or too much. To get a more objective view, find your body mass index (BMI). Body mass index is a ratio of weight to height, and it is commonly used in the health field as a more accurate measurement of body size than weight alone. (After all, a man who is six feet four inches tall and weighs two hundred pounds is not overweight, but a man of the same weight who is five feet seven inches tall is overweight.)
The health consequences of being overweight come from being overfat. BMI is not a perfect measurement because it doesn’t tell you if the weight you carry is largely muscle or fat. Many bodybuilders fall into the category of overweight even though they may have very little fat, and just because their BMI is high doesn’t mean they will be saddled with the same health problems that come with obesity. However, when most of us gain weight it’s because we put on excess fat. So BMI is a useful measure of whether your weight is normal or is putting you at risk for health problems.
There are ongoing debates about what BMI is considered normal, overweight, or obese. In general, people agree that a BMI below 26 for women who are planning a pregnancy is a healthy weight, a BMI from 26 to 29 is overweight, and a BMI above 29 is considered obese. Table below represents the current classifications agreed on by the Institute of Medicine based on the best evidence about healthy weight.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Before Pregnancy
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Classification BMI
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Underweight <19.8
Normal Weight 19.8-26.0
Overweight 26.0-29.0
Obese > 29.0
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The specific cutoffs of these categories make it easier for researchers and healthcare workers to classify people and make guidelines, but they can also be misleading. In reality, the health consequences of weight form a spectrum, with potential health risks at either end. People who fall outside the normal range can greatly improve both their chances of conceiving and the health of their pregnancy by reaching a normal weight—or closer to a normal weight—before they begin trying to conceive. If you fall outside a normal BMI, talk to your doctor to see whether it is appropriate to set up a plan for gaining or losing weight before pregnancy to get closer to normal.
We often have subjective ideas of how much weight is too little or too much. To get a more objective view, find your body mass index (BMI). Body mass index is a ratio of weight to height, and it is commonly used in the health field as a more accurate measurement of body size than weight alone. (After all, a man who is six feet four inches tall and weighs two hundred pounds is not overweight, but a man of the same weight who is five feet seven inches tall is overweight.)
The health consequences of being overweight come from being overfat. BMI is not a perfect measurement because it doesn’t tell you if the weight you carry is largely muscle or fat. Many bodybuilders fall into the category of overweight even though they may have very little fat, and just because their BMI is high doesn’t mean they will be saddled with the same health problems that come with obesity. However, when most of us gain weight it’s because we put on excess fat. So BMI is a useful measure of whether your weight is normal or is putting you at risk for health problems.
There are ongoing debates about what BMI is considered normal, overweight, or obese. In general, people agree that a BMI below 26 for women who are planning a pregnancy is a healthy weight, a BMI from 26 to 29 is overweight, and a BMI above 29 is considered obese. Table below represents the current classifications agreed on by the Institute of Medicine based on the best evidence about healthy weight.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Before Pregnancy
----------------------------------------------------------
Classification BMI
----------------------------------------------------------
Underweight <19.8
Normal Weight 19.8-26.0
Overweight 26.0-29.0
Obese > 29.0
----------------------------------------------------------
The specific cutoffs of these categories make it easier for researchers and healthcare workers to classify people and make guidelines, but they can also be misleading. In reality, the health consequences of weight form a spectrum, with potential health risks at either end. People who fall outside the normal range can greatly improve both their chances of conceiving and the health of their pregnancy by reaching a normal weight—or closer to a normal weight—before they begin trying to conceive. If you fall outside a normal BMI, talk to your doctor to see whether it is appropriate to set up a plan for gaining or losing weight before pregnancy to get closer to normal.
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