healthy before pregnancy
DESCRIPTION
Healthy Before Pregnancy. March of Dimes NC Preconception Health Campaign. Healthy weight matters: Lesson Plan 3. Body Mass Index. Body Mass Index. A measure used to compare your weight to your height Used to assess your risk for weight-related health conditions. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Body Mass Index
• A measure used to compare your weight to your height
• Used to assess your risk for weight-related health conditions
Image source: Office on Women's Health
Weight connections
• Now that you know which weight zone you are in, how do you think adolescents across the state measure up?
Weight connections
• NC adolescents are getting heavier
• Weight status before pregnancy may be connected to the health of future babies
• Most NC births are to women over 18 years
Factors that can affect women’s weight
• Age • Weight increases with age
• Income level • Obesity increases as income level
decreases
• Race/Ethnicity • Overweight and obesity highest among
Native Americans and African-Americans
Women’s weight: NC compared to U.S.
• Almost 58% of women in NC of childbearing age (18-44) are overweight or obese
• Among women of all ages, 60% of NC women are overweight compared to 55% across the US
Overweight/obesity among new mothers in NC
Trends in the Percentage of N.C. Overweight or Obese Mothers (1997-2005)
41%39%34%
0
10
20
30
40
50
1997-1999 2000-2002 2003-2005Per
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f N
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Source: North Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Survey Data. N.C. State Center for Health Statistics (1997-1999, 2000-2002, 2003-2005)
Obesity, pregnancy and race in NC
Trends in the Percentage of N.C. Obese Pre-Pregnancy Mothers by Race (1997-2005)
18%16%14%
28%25%
21%
0
10
20
30
40
50
1997-1999 2000-2002 2003-2005
Per
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oth
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White African AmericanSource: North Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Survey Data. N.C. State Center for Health Statistics (1997-1999, 2000-2002, 2003-2005)
Weight connections and your future
• Do you want to become a parent someday?
• If so, when would you ideally like to have your first child?
• What year do you want to become a parent?
• How old will you be?
Why weight really does matter
• A woman’s weight before pregnancy may affect her health during pregnancy, as well as influence the health of her baby.
Obese women are more likely to…
• Have early and/or recurrent miscarriage• Have pregnancy related diabetes• Develop dangerously high blood
pressure• Have a baby with a birth defect• Have a baby born prematurely (too soon)• Have cesarean sections• Develop infections during and after
childbirth
Babies born to obese pregnant women…
• Are at a higher risk of:• Birth defects• Stillbirth• Dying in the first 28 days of
life• High birth weight (>9.9 lbs)• Developing obesity, high
blood pressure and the inability to process glucose
• Low infant reflex scores 1 and 5 minutes after birth
• Not being breastfed
The cycle repeats
• Babies born to overweight mothers are more likely to become obese adults
• The likelihood that overweight children will become obese adults is almost 9 times higher than the risk for children who are not overweight
Beyond pregnancy…
• Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to have:• A higher risk of uterine
cancer (2-5 times greater)
• Increased risk of death from uterine and breast cancers
• Problems getting pregnant
• Greater risk of contraception/birth control not working
• Irregular periods• Depression
myeatsmartmovemore.com
• Enjoy more fruits and veggies• Prepare more meals at home• Right-size your portions
Weight does matter
• For NC to have more healthy babies young adults need to work together to change our health
• Learn about healthy food preparation and change old habits
• Be an advocate for yourself and for your current or future partner