Maternal obesity: consequences for children, challenges for clinicians and carers

In many industrialised countries almost one in five pregnant women is obese. Maternal obesity has major implications for the fetus and newborn infants, and may have adverse consequences for lifelong health and well-being. We discuss the current epidemiological evidence for the association of maternal obesity with congenital structural neural tube and cardiac defects, fetal macrosomia that predisposes infants to birth injuries and to problems with physiological and metabolic transition, as well as potential for long-term effects secondary to prenatal and neonatal programming effects compounded by a reduction in sustained breastfeeding. We summarise the evidence for the effect of maternal weight management interventions on fetal and neonatal outcomes and discuss areas where further research is needed to clarify uncertainties.