Sixty-two percent of women ages 20 to 74 are overweight, meaning they have a Body Mass Index of 25 or more. Nearly half that population is obese, with a BMI of 30 or more. Obesity, especially in women, is linked with a variety of other health-care complications. No wonder health-care costs resulting from obesity-related issues now exceed those of smoking-related healthcare issues and comprise close to 10 percent of our national health-care costs. Obesity in women is associated with numerous health challenges.

  • Maternal obesity has been associated with an increased incidence of neural tube defects, which cause birth defects. Folate intake, which decreases the risk of neural-tube defects, was found in one study to have a reduced effect with higher pre-pregnancy weight
  • Increased risk of breast cancer is associated with higher weight before and after menopause
  • Women with obesity have three to four times the risk of endometrial cancer
  • Obesity has negative implications for cardiovascular disease in women as well as gallbladder disease
  • Obesity has been found to affect ovulation, response to fertility treatment and pregnancy rates and outcomes.
  • Infertile women with obesity who lose weight have shown improvement in becoming pregnant and reaching full term
  • Excess weight can lead to complications such as menstrual abnormality, miscarriage and difficulties in performing assisted reproduction
  • High pre-pregnancy weight is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy hypertension, gestational diabetes, urinary infection, Cesarean section delivery and toxemia
  • Women with obesity are 13 times more likely to have overdue births, longer labors, induced labor and blood loss
  • Complications after childbirth, related to obesity, include an increased risk of wound and endometrial infection, endometritis and urinary tract infection
  • Obesity is a well-documented risk factor for the involuntary loss of urine as well as urgency
  • Obesity carries with it several negative implications for women with regard to education, employment, social status and prejudice and discrimination in general

 

Healthy weight management is a balance between calories taken in and calories put out. That balance is more easily and effectively achieved with a combination of exercise and following a healthy eating program. Healthy Weight Management is not a "diet." It’s a way of life. We approve of this approach and recommend it to our patients because:

  • It emphasizes basic nutrition fundamentals, whether you are looking to stabilize blood sugar, lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
  • It places the responsibility for your diet on you, because you choose the foods you would like according to the number of exchanges prescribed. This requires planning and forethought which are appropriate investments in your health and that of your developing baby, if you are pregnant.
  • The mini-meal or grazing feature of this program is a good lifelong strategy for you and your loved ones. With all the food choices—and temptations—available to us today, vigilance is required to change an unhelpful habit into an approach that works for you. Eating three appropriately-sized meals and three snacks ensures that you are paying attention.


If you are pregnant, we will test your blood glucose. If you show signs of gestational diabetes, we will introduce you to the program.