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Chapter 26 - Obesity and Early Pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2025

By
Samantha McLean  and
Christina E. Boots
Edited by
Roy G. Farquharson ,
Mary D. Stephenson  and
Mariëtte Goddijn
Roy G. Farquharson
Affiliation:
Liverpool Women’s Hospital
Mary D. Stephenson
Affiliation:
University of Illinois, Chicago
Mariëtte Goddijn
Affiliation:
Amsterdam University Medical Centers
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Summary

Obesity is a worsening global epidemic that is detrimentally affecting women’s reproductive health. Being obese not only decreases fertility, but also increases miscarriage rates and other pregnancy complications. Perhaps even more significant is the increasing evidence demonstrating associations between maternal obesity and long-term risks of obesity and metabolic disturbances in the offspring.

The mechanisms mediating the effects of obesity on early pregnancy are likely multifactorial, involving oocyte quality, embryo competence, endometrial receptivity, and fetal development. Early pregnancy is a critical time that strongly influences the fate of the pregnancy as well as the health of the next generation.

Keywords

Obesityearly pregnancymiscarriageepigeneticsaneuploidy
Type
Chapter
Information
Early Pregnancy , pp. 282 - 291
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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