Impact of obesity on pregnancy - health complications for mother and child - literature review

Obesity is one of the most common conditions that affect women of childbearing age. Abnormal body weight in pregnant women carries short-term as well as long-term consequences, both for the mother and her offspring. Obesity can contribute to infertility, thereby making it difficult to conceive a child. In the first trimester of pregnancy, it can cause spontaneous miscarriages. At the same time, it is associated with abnormal development of the fetus and, at a later stage of life, the child. However, carrying out appropriate education, leading to women’s self-monitoring can significantly contribute to reducing or maintaining normal body weight - and thus help reduce the occurrence of complications caused by obesity. The purpose of this article was to conduct a literature review to assess the impact of obesity occurring in women of childbearing age on the emergence of possible complications in her and her offspring.