Rates of obesity among pregnant women in Victoria have risen steadily over a decade, new research has shown, sparking concerns for the health implications for both mothers and babies. The study, published in the , is the first to review obesity prevalence in a large maternity cohort over time in Australia. Led by a team from Deakin University's School of Nursing and Midwifery and Western Health's Women's and Children's Division, the findings show obesity rates are highest in areas of Victoria where disadvantage is greatest and where health services are often harder to access.
Professor Linda Sweet from Deakin's Institute for Health Transformation (IHT) and Chair of Midwifery at Western Health said the findings were concerning given the increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth for women who are significantly overweight. "Obesity increases the risk of gestational diabetes, , , and unplanned cesarean sections," Professor Sweet said. "There is also an increased risk of stillbirth, , and birth-related trauma in both mothers and their babies.
" The researchers used de-identified Victorian Perinatal Data Collection data for all births between 2010–2019, looking at maternal body mass index (BMI). Their findings include: Western Health's Associate Professor Glyn Teale, who established a dedicated antenatal clinic to support pregnant women living with obesity achieve a healthy pregnancy, said antenatal care of women with obesity could require a range of medical .