Treatment of Obesity Before, During, and After Pregnancy: Time for Obstetricians to Get Involved.

Abstract

Importance: Obesity is a major public health concern that is associated with serious health risks and consequences for people who want to be, are, or have been pregnant.

Objective: We will describe the implications and consequences of obesity, and describe the factors fueling obesity's escalating prevalence. We will describe new treatment approaches including glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, which may be an effective strategy for achieving weight loss and for improving the health of people who have been, are, or want to be pregnant.

Evidence acquisition: Existing literature on obesity consequences, treatment options, and pregnancy implications was reviewed through a PubMed search.

Results: Obesity has dire pregnancy-related health consequences and leads to multiple barriers to healthcare. Traditional interventions related to diet and exercise have fallen short, and newer medical therapies are emerging.

Relevance: The periods before, during, and after pregnancy are crucial to mitigate potential morbidities of pregnancy pre, peri, and post. Obstetricians have a unique opportunity to tackle the problem of obesity at those times.