Structural Birth Defects Linked to Obese Mothers

Filed in archive Cases , Studies on August 14, 2007

Overweight and obese women are at high risk of chronic diseases, infertility, irregular menstruation and complications during pregnancy.

But still it is surprising to find that babies born with some structural birth defects (including missing limbs, malformed hearts and underdeveloped spinal cords) are more likely to be traced back to mothers who were obese prior to becoming pregnant.

Mothers of babies with the following seven of 16 birth defects have been found to be more likely to be obese than mothers of infants without birth defects:

• Spina bifida, a condition that occurs when part of the spinal cord is uncovered, causing incontinence and problems with mobility


• Heart defects


• Anorectal atresia, malformation of the anal opening


• Hypospadias, which occurs when the urethra opens on the underside instead of the end of the penis


• Limb reduction defects, such as small or missing toes, fingers, arms or legs


• Diaphragmatic hernia, or an opening in the diaphragm that allows abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity and may cause lungs to be underdeveloped


• Omphalocele, in which the intestines or other abdominal organs protrude out through the navel

Such were the findings of from University of Texas reported in the the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (one of the JAMA/Archives journals).

Said the study's authors:

"The reasons for an association between maternal obesity and a spectrum of structural birth defects are unknown.

Both animal studies and human studies provide substantial evidence that alterations in glycemic control are responsible for an increased risk of a range of structural birth defects among women who have diabetes prior to becoming pregnant.

Thus, a similar mechanism to that occurring in women with diabetes may be responsible for the associations observed between maternal obesity and specific categories of birth defects."

Women should indeed be generally healthy prior to pregnancy. Pregnancy is both delicate and difficult, thus it would help a lot if a woman is already fit and well from the start. Obesity or being overweight is I think really not a disease but rather a condition that puts one in peril of a disease.

Findings like this one is kind-a scary because any pregnancy is like a shot in the dark, you never know that your unborn child is A1-OK until he is delivered and given a clean bill of health.

Source: JAMA and Archives Journal