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

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. Target Audience Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians. Learning Objectives After completing this activity, the learner will be better able to identify health consequences associated with obesity before, during, and after pregnancy including maternal and fetal complications; discuss the factors contributing to the escalating prevalence of obesity in the United States; and explain therapeutic options and their efficacy in treating individuals with obesity who have been, are, or may become pregnant.