When pregnant women go for an antenatal check-up, they are asked about their weight and height just before they became pregnant. Figures for 2022 now show that 40 per cent of women who become pregnant are overweight or obese when they enter pregnancy. Figures from the Medical Birth Register show that the number has increased significantly in recent years. Liv Cecilie Vestrheim Thomsen, senior physician at FHI, is concerned about the development. Photo: Photographer Løtvedt BMI over 25 is overweight Life Cecile Vestrheim Thomsen is a senior physician at the Institute of Public Health. She tells news that previous years’ trend of increasing BMI continued last year. For the first time in the history of the Medical Birth Register, the average of pregnant women has a BMI over 25 before the start of pregnancy. It means overweight. The figures from the Medical Birth Register follow the trend in the general population. Increased weight and obesity – major consequences In the follow-up of pregnant women, health personnel monitor BMI both before and during pregnancy. This is because overweight and obesity increase the risk of complications for both mother and child. – The increase in the group with obesity has consequences, says senior physician Vestrheim Thomsen to news. – Antenatal care must prepare for more and closer follow-up when the proportion of overweight pregnant women increases. In addition, it will also have consequences for maternity wards around Norway, says Vestrheim Thomsen. Closer follow-up during pregnancy in case of overweight or obesity. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Risk of complications – An increase will mean that maternity wards will need extra midwives and gynecologists to carry out more checks. We need more anesthetists to make it possible for the women to receive good anesthesia and thus give gynecologists the opportunity to perform emergency caesareans. – We also need better adapted medical equipment in the maternity wards and in the operating theatres, emphasizes Vestrheim Thomsen. Women with obesity have an increased risk of blood clots, major bleeding, gestational diabetes and infection during pregnancy and during childbirth. – To avoid such complications, they must therefore be followed up extra during pregnancy, birth and during the maternity period. In addition, the specialist health service must also be involved to a greater extent, says Vestrheim Thomsen to news BMI over 35 – a doubling since 2013 In 2013, 2.48 per cent of those giving birth were overweight or obese, while in 2022 the figure rose to 5.1 percent of all births. In 2022, 24.4 per cent of all pregnant women were overweight, while 14.1 per cent had obesity degree 1-2, and 1.6 per cent had obesity degree 3 right before pregnancy. The percentage of women who at the start of pregnancy were overweight (BMI over 25) or obese (BMI over 30) grade 1-3. Graphics: FHI It also turns out that more people are overweight with children number three or four. 43 percent of those having their third and 49 percent of those having their fourth child are overweight or obese. 60 percent of all pregnant women are normal weight or underweight when they begin their pregnancy. Vestrheim Thomsen states that there are fewer people who are underweight, while there are more overall who are categorized as obese. There are also variations between counties. Rogaland and Oslo stand out with a lower average BMI. On a national basis, the average BMI was 25 in 2022, while in Rogaland it was 24.9, and in Oslo 23.8.
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40% of Norwegian women are overweight before they become pregnant – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
