Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome: a prospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether the obese women have an increased risk of pregnancy complications and adverse fetal outcome. METHODS: The longitudinal prospective study was carried out in the Obst and Gynae department, IPGME and R, Kolkata. The study enrolled 422 pre-pregnant obese women with pregnancy as study population and equal number of non obese pregnant mothers as controls. Body mass index (BMI) was > or = 30.0 kg/m2 and 20-22 kg/m2 in obese and control group respectively. RESULTS: In comparison to average weight pregnant women, obese pregnant women were at increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (19.43 vs 3.79%; p