A new study in the UK has found that obese pregnant women - especially first-time mothers - are at higher risk of

eclampsia and premature births compared with women of a healthy weight.

The study was carried out by Kings College London, and looked at data from 385 pregnancies. (Results are published in the

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.)

The key findings were:

* Obese first-time mothers had a much higher risk of pre-eclampsia: 11.7% developed the condition, compared with 6% of

obese women who'd been through a previous pregnancy, and 2% of non-obese women.
* 11.9% of the babies born to the women in the study were premature: almost twice the national average.
* The babies were more likely to be under or over weight, compared with babies born to women of a healthy weight.

18.8% of the babies had a low birth weight (under 2.5 kg), compared with 10% of babies born to women of a healthy weight.

And 13.4% of the babies were considered large - compared with 10% of those born to healthy women.

The researchers also noted that the women who gained the most weight in pregnancy were also the most likely to develop

pre-eclampsia.

The BBC reported Professor Lucilla Poston, the lead researcher, saying that the health problems for babies and mothers

highlighted by the study indicated that special attention should be paid to obese first-time mothers. She suggested that

the reasons for the higher risks of pre-eclampsia and other issues were due to increased insulin resistance in pregnant

obese women:

Normal pregnancy induces a mild form of insulin resistance and we know that obese people become more insulin resistant

and that promotes diabetes, pre-eclampsia and macrosomia or bigger babies.

If you are pregnant for the first time, or seeking to become pregnant, it's worth discussing any weight concerns with your

doctor. You should not attempt to diet whilst pregnant without seeking medical advice.

Source: Diet-blog.com