Excess weight and obesity have gained attention as serious threats to global health. The number of women who are overweight or obese during pregnancy has also increased. During pregnancy, excess ...

The World Health Organization officially declared obesity a global epidemic in 1997, noting that rates had nearly tripled since 1975 — which is when experts believe the epidemic began.

The percentage of women who are obese while pregnant has nearly doubled, rising to more than 16% in the 2010s from under 9% in the 1990s, researchers said in background notes.

Maternal obesity doesn't just affect the health of a pregnant woman. It can also have effects on her child, increasing their risk of developing obesity and its associated complications. According to a ...

Women with higher levels of body fat sometimes struggle to conceive and can face greater health risks during pregnancy.