Last week I wrote two posts about how excess weight during pregnancy may result in poor infant outcomes, including large for gestational age newborns and a variety of birth defects. A study published this week provides further evidence for watching weight before and during pregnancy - only this time the evidence focuses on moms.
After reviewing long-term medical data from over 37,000 women who had live births in Israel, the researchers found that women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) had increased risk for later cancer of the pancreas. They did not find the same cancer risk for women who had insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes.
What does this have to do with obesity, you ask? One of the primary risk factors for gestational diabetes is a high body mass index (BMI). And research shows that more and more women are being diagnosed with gestational diabetes - which is not surprising given the growing problem of overweight and obesity in the United States. So, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If your BMI is high and you’re thinking about pregnancy, you may want to talk to your doctor about how to lose weight first. It’s a decision that will improve not only your baby’s health, but your own.
After reviewing long-term medical data from over 37,000 women who had live births in Israel, the researchers found that women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) had increased risk for later cancer of the pancreas. They did not find the same cancer risk for women who had insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes.
What does this have to do with obesity, you ask? One of the primary risk factors for gestational diabetes is a high body mass index (BMI). And research shows that more and more women are being diagnosed with gestational diabetes - which is not surprising given the growing problem of overweight and obesity in the United States. So, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If your BMI is high and you’re thinking about pregnancy, you may want to talk to your doctor about how to lose weight first. It’s a decision that will improve not only your baby’s health, but your own.
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