Introduction:

A body mass index higher than 30 kg/m2, at the beginning of pregnancy, is associated with an increased risk of presenting maternal-fetal conditions.

Objective:

To describe the main maternal or fetal complications associated with obesity in pregnant women from Artemisa Municipality.

Methods:

An observational and cross-sectional study was conducted in Artemisa in 2016. Of the 832 pregnant women, 179 with body mass index higher than 25 kg/m2 from the preconception stage or at the time of pregnancy were selected. Through documentary review, information of interest was obtained: type of obesity and maternal-fetal complications.

Results:

Of the pregnant women under study, 21.5 % (179 of 832) started their pregnancy with a body mass index higher than 25 kg/m2, while 61.5 % (110 of 179) suffered from obesity combined with arterial hypertension and/or diabetes. The frequency of complications increased with the presence of these associated diseases. The main maternal morbidities were vaginal deliveries with obstetric complications, anemia, cesarean sections, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. 50 % of the participants had affected offspring. When maternal obesity was accompanied by arterial hypertension, preterm newborns were frequently observed. If obese women had pregestational diabetes, major congenital defects were the predominant morbidities in their offspring. No association was found between preconceptional overweight and increased risk of fetal conditions.

Conclusions:

About twenty out of a hundred women start pregnancy with overweight or obesity, with an increased risk for maternal-fetal complications proportional to the increase in body mass index and the severity with which this disease is manifested. This risk is higher when obesity is combined with other maternal morbidities.

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