Die Schwangere über 25 (BMI) Herausforderung in der antenatalen und peripartalen Überwachung

Pandemic obesity is a global public health concern as the incidence of obesity has increased substantially over the past decades even among adolescents and women of childbearing age. Recent data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed a prevalence of obesity among women of 30.2%, with 56.7% of women classified as overweight. In the German female population 42% were found to be overweight, and 13% fulfilled the criteria for morbid adiposity 1. This prevalence of overweight and obesity is a major challenge in obstetrical practice, because increased maternal weight is associated with a number of pregnancy complications affecting both the mother and the developing fetus. Diagnostic modalities, such as obstetrical ultrasound imaging are adversely affected by obesity with a negative impact on the detection rate of congenital anomalies. It is known and has been previously confirmed by several meta-analyses that maternal obesity poses an elevated risk for feto-maternal complications both antenatally, peri-and postnatally. This review aims to present relevant data on the prenatal surveillance of obese pregnant women and to discuss clinical and technical issues affecting the obstetrical management of the obese gravida.