ABSTRACT
Introduction: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in women of
reproductive age. Maternal obesity is associated with increased morbidity and
mortality for both mother and offspring. BMI has been criticized as a limited
measure of total obesity. Measurement of waist circumference can be useful in
the assessment of abdominal obesity and disease risk. The study is aimed to
evaluate the waist circumference as an anthropometric parameter in identifying
women at risk of developing obstetric complications. Material and Methods: A
prospective study was conducted at a tertiary health care centre on 200
antenatal women of age between 18 to 35 years with singleton pregnancy attending
the antenatal clinic before 8 weeks of gestation. Women were divided into two
groups. Group I included 100 women with waist circumference < 80 cm and
Group II included 100 women with waist circumference ≥ 80 cm. Weight, height
and waist circumference were measured and BMI was calculated. All the women
were followed throughout their pregnancies as per the routine antenatal follow
up. The fetomaternal outcome was recorded and analyzed statistically. Results:
The two groups were comparable in age, parity and demographic profile. The
maternal and neonatal complications—preeclampsia (p = 0.0052, RR 0.5062, 95% CI
0.2935 - 0.8728), gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm labor, postdatism,
need for induction of labor (p value 0.0081, RR 0.6263, 95% CI 0.4314, 0.9091),
instrumental vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery (p = 0.0072, RR 0.5745, 95% CI
0.3696, 0.8929), shoulder dystocia, PPH, macrosomia, neonatal asphyxia, admission
to NICU were reported more in Group II women as compared to Group I. Conclusion:
Assessment of waist circumference in early pregnancy provides a simple and
practical parameter for predicting obesity related pregnancy outcome. All
pregnancies in centrally obese women (waist circumference ≥ 80 cm) shall be
acknowledged as high risk.