Monday, June 6 2005 19:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Obesity has always been rated as a problem factor; aesthetically as well physiologically.

A study conducted recently has strengthened this view by identifying obesity as a major reason for problem births.

Dr Talakere Usha Kiran had led the study, which was titled 'The Cardiff Birth Study'. This study by Welsh researchers was conducted on 8350 women who were to deliver their first baby. To begin with, researchers earmarked a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30 as obese.

According to their findings, obese women faced a higher risk of being overdue and having their labour induced. They had a higher probability of experiencing maternal blood loss, urinary tract infections. They required admission to the neonatal unit and were more likely to require assistance with feeding and maintaining body temperature.

In addition, there was also a chance of the baby's shoulders getting stuck during vaginal delivery.

It has also been found out that a high percentage of women who underwent Caesareans suffered from obesity and emergency procedures were also more likely among them.

'Caesareans are becoming more and more tough because of the challenge of cutting through the abdominal fat', one of the Doctors said.

It is startling to learn that the incidence of pregnancies involving obese women has more than doubled in the past 10 years. Also, a third of the pregnant women who gave birth between 1990 and 1999, were obese.

Experts have expressed concern over the issue and have advised women to lose weight before getting pregnant.

The spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has opined that obesity raises the risk of birthing complications and also reduces the chances of becoming pregnant.

However, the team that has come out with the commendable results are not fully satisfied as it is not yet clear, why obese women had this increased risk. 'The problem has been found, but not the solution' was their remark.