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A Nationally Representative Study of Maternal Obesity in England, UK: Trends in Incidence and Demographic Inequalities in 619323 Births, 1989-2007

Heslehurst, N.; Rankin, J.; Wilkinson, J.R.; Summerbell, C.D.

A Nationally Representative Study of Maternal Obesity in England, UK: Trends in Incidence and Demographic Inequalities in 619323 Births, 1989-2007 Thumbnail


Authors

N. Heslehurst

J. Rankin

J.R. Wilkinson



Abstract

Background: There is an absence of national statistics for maternal obesity in the UK. This study is the first to describe a nationally representative maternal obesity research data set in England. Design: Retrospective epidemiological study of first trimester obesity. Methods: Data from 34 maternity units were analysed, including 619 323 births between 1989 and 2007. Data analysis included trends in first trimester maternal body bass index status over time, and geographical distribution of maternal obesity. Population demographics including maternal age, parity, ethnic group, deprivation and employment were analysed to identify any maternal obesity-associated health inequalities. All demographics were tested for multicollinearity. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for all demographics as confounders. Results: First trimester maternal obesity is significantly increasing over time, having more than doubled from 7.6% to 15.6% over 19 years (P<0.001), and shows geographic variation in incidence. There are also demographic health inequalities associated with maternal obesity, including increased odds of being obese with increasing age, parity, Black ethnic group and deprivation. There is also an association between morbid obesity and increased levels of unemployment. Conclusions: The increase in maternal obesity has serious implications for the health of mothers, infants and service providers, yielding an additional 47 500 women per year requiring high dependency care in England. The demography of women most at risk of first trimester obesity highlights health inequalities associated with maternal obesity, which urgently needs to be addressed.

Citation

Heslehurst, N., Rankin, J., Wilkinson, J., & Summerbell, C. (2010). A Nationally Representative Study of Maternal Obesity in England, UK: Trends in Incidence and Demographic Inequalities in 619323 Births, 1989-2007. International Journal of Obesity, 34(3), 420-428. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.250

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Mar 1, 2010
Deposit Date Sep 8, 2010
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal International Journal of Obesity
Print ISSN 0307-0565
Electronic ISSN 1476-5497
Publisher Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 34
Issue 3
Pages 420-428
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.250