ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF MATERNAL OBESITY AND ITS EFFECTS ON FETAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Maternal obesity is a growing problem worldwide leading to physical and psychological problems to the mother and everyone around her. The aim of this study is to reflect the association between maternal obesity and fetal macrosomia. In this study 100 cases and 100 controls were selected from pregnant women who were referred from outpatient clinics to the Special care unit for the fetus; Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital for ultrasound examination in the period from July 2013 to January 2015. The results of this study showed significant effect of obesity on the gestational age of the fetus calculated by the ultrasound (US) compared to fetal age according to the last menstrual period (LMP) as the mean US gestational age for the cases was 31.55 ± 1.7 SD compared to 29.86 ± 1.3 SD according to LMP and 29.74 ± 1.3 SD for gestation age according to ultrasound for controls and 29.68 ± 1.3 SD for gestation age according to LMP for controls. Also fetal weight was higher in cases with mean of 1819.73 ± 223.98 compared to 1514.59 ± 223.98.hence more attention should be directed to this major public health problem to raise the awareness and provide more clinical care and medical service for these pregnant women and their babies.