Healthy Before Pregnancy

March of DimesNC Preconception Health

Campaign

Healthy weight matters:Lesson Plan 3

Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index

• A measure used to compare your weight to your height

• Used to assess your risk for weight-related health conditions

Image source: Office on Women's Health

Weight connections

• Now that you know which weight zone you are in, how do you think adolescents across the state measure up?

NC Parent Assessment of Adolescent Child’s Weight Status, 2008

NC Public Health Care Provider Assessment of Female Patients’ Weight Status Ages 12-18, 2008

NC high school females self report on weight status

Weight connections

• NC adolescents are getting heavier

• Weight status before pregnancy may be connected to the health of future babies

• Most NC births are to women over 18 years

Factors that can affect women’s weight

• Age • Weight increases with age

• Income level • Obesity increases as income level

decreases

• Race/Ethnicity • Overweight and obesity highest among

Native Americans and African-Americans

Women’s weight: NC compared to U.S.

• Almost 58% of women in NC of childbearing age (18-44) are overweight or obese

• Among women of all ages, 60% of NC women are overweight compared to 55% across the US

Overweight/obesity among new mothers in NC

Trends in the Percentage of N.C. Overweight or Obese Mothers (1997-2005)

41%39%34%

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10

20

30

40

50

1997-1999 2000-2002 2003-2005Per

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Source: North Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Survey Data. N.C. State Center for Health Statistics (1997-1999, 2000-2002, 2003-2005)

Obesity, pregnancy and race in NC

Trends in the Percentage of N.C. Obese Pre-Pregnancy Mothers by Race (1997-2005)

18%16%14%

28%25%

21%

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10

20

30

40

50

1997-1999 2000-2002 2003-2005

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White African AmericanSource: North Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Survey Data. N.C. State Center for Health Statistics (1997-1999, 2000-2002, 2003-2005)

Weight connections and your future

• Do you want to become a parent someday?

• If so, when would you ideally like to have your first child?

• What year do you want to become a parent?

• How old will you be?

Why weight really does matter

• A woman’s weight before pregnancy may affect her health during pregnancy, as well as influence the health of her baby.

Obese women are more likely to…

• Have early and/or recurrent miscarriage• Have pregnancy related diabetes• Develop dangerously high blood

pressure• Have a baby with a birth defect• Have a baby born prematurely (too soon)• Have cesarean sections• Develop infections during and after

childbirth

Babies born to obese pregnant women…

• Are at a higher risk of:• Birth defects• Stillbirth• Dying in the first 28 days of

life• High birth weight (>9.9 lbs)• Developing obesity, high

blood pressure and the inability to process glucose

• Low infant reflex scores 1 and 5 minutes after birth

• Not being breastfed

The cycle repeats

• Babies born to overweight mothers are more likely to become obese adults

• The likelihood that overweight children will become obese adults is almost 9 times higher than the risk for children who are not overweight

Beyond pregnancy…

• Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to have:• A higher risk of uterine

cancer (2-5 times greater)

• Increased risk of death from uterine and breast cancers

• Problems getting pregnant

• Greater risk of contraception/birth control not working

• Irregular periods• Depression

myeatsmartmovemore.com

• Enjoy more fruits and veggies• Prepare more meals at home• Right-size your portions

myeatsmartmovemore.com

• Choose to move more every day• Breastfeed your baby

myeatsmartmovemore.com

• Tame the tube• Re-think your

drink

Weight does matter

• For NC to have more healthy babies young adults need to work together to change our health

• Learn about healthy food preparation and change old habits

• Be an advocate for yourself and for your current or future partner

Healthy birthdays ahead

• Being at a healthy weight now as a teen and through young adulthood puts you and your future family at a HUGE advantage later