Health Indicator Report of Obesity in Pregnancy

Notes

Obesity for adults is defined as a BMI of 30 or more. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.

Data Source

Utah Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health

Definition

Percentage of of women who delivered a live birth and had a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m^2^ calculated from prepregnancy weight and height.

Numerator

Number of of women who delivered a live birth and had a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m^2^ calculated from prepregnancy weight and height.

Denominator

Total number of live births.

Healthy People Objective MICH-16.5:

Increase the proportion of women delivering a live birth who had a healthy weight prior to pregnancy
U.S. Target: 53.4 percent

How Are We Doing?

The percentage of Utah women with a normal prepregnancy BMI has decreased over the last decade to a low of 50.7% in 2016, which is lower than the Healthy People objective of 57.8%. The decrease in normal BMI is paired with an increase in the percentage of women with an obese prepregnancy BMI. The proportion of women with an obese prepregnancy BMI has increased each year from 14.5% in 2005 to 21.0% in 2016.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Currently, there are no nationally comparative data on prepregnancy BMI as the National Center for Health Statistics does not report on this measure.

What Is Being Done?

In an effort to reduce the rate of obesity in reproductive aged women, emphasis is being placed on maternal preconception health to help women achieve optimal weight and health prior to pregnancy. Women should be counseled on their weight by their primary caregivers as part of well woman care and should be informed of their increased risks for adverse outcomes once becoming pregnant if they are at an unhealthy weight. Women who are pregnant should be counseled about appropriate weight gain during pregnancy and postpartum weight loss to prevent obesity in future pregnancies. The Utah Department of Health "Utah Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan" offers a comprehensive, statewide obesity prevention agenda, building on initiatives and efforts already underway in many settings in Utah. The focus is on policy and environmental changes that support Utahns making healthier choices every day to improve physical activity and eating patterns.