Obesity in pregnant women could alter the structure and function of the placenta increasing the risk of poor health outcomes for both mother and baby. Maternal obesity alters the structure of the placenta (a vital organ that nourishes the baby during pregnancy) more than gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM; a condition is diagnosed by poor glucose control in pregnancy). The new insight, published in The Journal of Physiology, enhances understanding about the mechanisms underlying poor pregnancy outcomes and the subsequent greater risk of poor neonatal and offspring health. The identification of specific changes in the placenta could lead to the potential
Obesity in pregnancy risks as seen on The Hippocratic Post.