Preface : Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Abstract

Obesity defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2 is now considered one of the most important contributors to the rising morbidity and mortality world-wide from non-communicable diseases and by implication cost of healthcare. The WHO estimated that in 2016, there were about 1.9 billion people living with overweight of which 560 million were obese. Further characterisation of the data showed that 40% and 13% of women aged 18 years were living with overweight and obesity respectively. The rates have been rising and more so in the low- and middle-income countries and the World Obesity Federation estimates that if current trends continue, there will be over 1 billion people living with obesity by 2030. A comprehensive study from 2005 to 2014 of obesity rates in pregnancy in 184 countries, estimated that in 2014 there were 38.9 million overweight and 14.6 million obese pregnant women world-wide. The rise in obesity rates were disproportionately higher in low- and middle-income countries.