The Impact of Obesity on Pregnancy: A Literature Review Plan

This literature review plan examines the impact of obesity on pregnancy, outlining key research and potential risks. The plan includes selected references, justifications for their selection, and a thesis statement. The literature review will explore how maternal obesity can lead to complications such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, and cardiac dysfunction, as well as the adverse effects on the baby, including fetal macrosomia and childhood obesity. Furthermore, it addresses the influence of lifestyle factors like unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, and smoking during pregnancy. The plan is structured to cover the negative impacts of obesity on both the mother and the child, emphasizing the importance of healthy lifestyles and early intervention to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Obesity and pregnancy 1
THE IMPACT OF OBESITY ON PREGNANCY
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Obesity and pregnancy 2
Initial topic: obesity and pregnancy
Refined topic: the impact of obesity on pregnancy and the risk factors associated with it.
1. Literature Selection
Selected references Justification
Marchi, J., Berg, M., Dencker, A., Olander, E.K.
and Begley, C., 2015. Risks associated with
obesity in pregnancy, for the mother and baby: a
systematic review of reviews. Obesity Reviews,
16(8), pp.621-638.
Research study demonstrated that there was
significant health risks for both the mother
and baby during pregnancy. The obese
mothers risked development of pregnancy
complications such as miscarriage and
gestational diabetes while the baby fetal
macrosomia
Karachaliou, M., Georgiou, V., Roumeliotaki,
T., Chalkiadaki, G., Daraki, V., Koinaki, S.,
Dermitzaki, E., Sarri, K., Vassilaki, M.,
Kogevinas, M. and Oken, E., 2015. Association
of trimester-specific gestational weight gain with
fetal growth, offspring obesity, and
cardiometabolic traits in early childhood.
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
212(4), pp.502-e1.
Case observation of the third trimester of
pregnancy reported a rapid gestational weight
gain with fetal growth. There was a
significant offspring obesity and cardiac
related complications in the early stages of the
newborn after birth.
Rayfield, Sarah, and Emma Plugge. "Systematic
review and meta-analysis of the association
between maternal smoking in pregnancy and
childhood overweight and obesity." J Epidemiol
Community Health 71, no. 2 (2017): 162-173.
The outcome of a meta-analysis showed that
there was an observed relationship between
maternal smoking and early childhood
obesity. The nicotine use during pregnancy
caused significant intrauterine effects that
affected the newborn predisposing them to
obesity
Yaniv-Salem, S., Shoham-Vardi, I., Kessous, R.,
Pariente, G., Sergienko, R. and Sheiner, E.,
2016. Obesity in pregnancy: what's next? Long-
term cardiovascular morbidity in a follow-up
period of more than a decade. The Journal of
Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 29(4),
pp.619-623.
Research study showed a significant long-
term cardiovascular morbidity in both obese
mothers and their offspring in a follow up of
over a decade targeting obese mothers. The
genetic factors influenced obese conditions in
children of obese parents and the obesity
significantly influenced cardiovascular
problems due to buildup of fatty tissue around
the myocardium
Bisson, M. and Marc, I., 2017. Maternal Fitness
and Infant Birth Weight. In Diet, Nutrition, and
Fetal Programming (pp. 43-53). Humana Press,
Cham.
Diet and nutrition significantly influence
maternal obesity during pregnancy. Unhealthy
diet and lack of physical exercise predisposes
the mother to obesity hence influencing fetal
birth weight.

Obesity and pregnancy 3
2. Literature Review Plan
Introduction Thesis statement Research has demonstrated that there is a
considerable negative impact associated with
obesity in pregnancy. The negative impact is
brought about by an interplay of several factors are
brought about by maternal obesity. Obesity in
pregnancy results from unhealthy diet and lack of
physical activity. The consequences of the
condition affect both the mother and the infant.
Support Obesity in pregnancy negatively affects mothers by
predisposing them to complications in pregnancy.
These complications include the risk of a
miscarriage, preeclampsia which is characterized
by a raise in blood pressure beyond normal levels,
cardiac dysfunction, sleep apnea and a difficult
vaginal delivery leading to a C-section delivery
method instead
Paragraph 1 Topic sentence 1 Unhealthy lifestyles during pregnancy predisposes
a mother to becoming obese and the obesity
develops gradually and negatively affects the health
of the mother
Support During pregnancy, it is advisable for the mother to
check on their diet and nutrition so as to promote
healthy outcomes. Intake of junk foods and lack of
exercise are some of the lifestyles that can lead to
maternal obesity. The obesity affects the mother’s
health by predisposing them to cardiac related
diseases such as hypertension, acute myocardial
infarction and coronary artery disease. These
conditions if not properly managed can be fatal
hence the need to check weight in pregnancy.
Paragraph 2 Topic sentence 2 There is a considerable association between obesity
in pregnancy and the development of health
problems for the baby.
Support Fetal macrosomia is a common problem associated
with obesity in pregnancy. The fetus is usually
bigger than normal and has increased fat levels.
This may negatively affect the newborn in that it
increases chances of getting metabolic syndromes
and childhood obesity. It also increases the chances
of having various birth defects.

Obesity and pregnancy 4
Paragraph 3 Topic sentence 3 Research has displayed a considerable association
between maternal smoking in pregnancy and
childhood obesity.
Support Smoking during pregnancy by mothers is a habit
that needs to be addressed and discouraged.
Cigarettes contain nicotine that negatively affects
pregnancy. It affects the health of the fetus thereby
leading to childhood obesity. The obesity
negatively affects the children by predisposing
them to cardiac related diseases.
Conclusion Obesity is a medical condition which can be prevented by healthy lifestyle.
When it occurs during pregnancy, it has a considerable number of
consequences as it negatively affects the health of both the mother and the
child. It is therefore of importance to ensure pregnant mothers are educated on
the subject of obesity to ensure better health outcomes