- 500 women participate in the protocol called Obeso, 62% were overweight or obese.
- Evidence will contribute to the elaboration of the NOM for care and follow-up of pregnant women with excess weight and their daughters and sons in the first years of life.
- The results of the study will be published during the institute’s 36th Annual Meeting, to be held from April 18 to 21.
Inadequate nutrition, obesity, and metabolic diseases in pregnant women increase the risk of complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus. They also generate lower fetal growth, fat accumulation and alterations in the neurodevelopment of children during the first years of life, refer to the results of the Obeso protocol.
The Obeso protocol (Biochemical and epigenetic origin of overweight and obesity) began seven years ago by specialists from the National Institute of Perinatology “Dr. Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” (INPer). During this time, 500 pregnant women and their daughters and sons have been followed up.
In an interview, INPer’s Research Director, Guadalupe Estrada Gutiérrez, project leader, assured that it is the first program in Mexico through which medical, nutritional, and psychological monitoring is provided to study the environmental, nutritional, and clinical factors that influence the development of metabolic diseases, perinatal complications, overweight and obesity in mothers and their daughters and sons, from the beginning of pregnancy to five years of age.
He stressed that the protocol involves a multidisciplinary team made up of 25 experts, including researchers, specialists and students, and financed by INPer and the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt).
First Mexican study of obesity in pregnant women
Women were included from their first trimester of pregnancy. Blood samples and measurements of muscle, bone and adipose tissue were taken. Likewise, their nutritional status was reviewed and ultrasound, metabolic profile, glucose, lipids, and cell damage markers were performed. Of the 500 pregnant women, 62 percent were overweight or obese.
He indicated that during the first phase of this project, scientific evidence was generated on the risk factors for developing perinatal complications. It was found that smoking, poor nutrition, exposure to environmental chemicals and pollution increase the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in the newborn, in childhood, adolescence and adult life. However, physical activity and good nutrition help prevent these conditions from appearing late or never developing.
It was also found that maternal nutritional status and cell damage caused by overweight and obesity predict the size of the newborn.
The INPer Research Director explained that women who start pregnancy with a normal weight and gain more kilos than recommended can develop cardio-metabolic diseases at an early age. In this segment, lower levels of the hormone that regulates glucose and fatty acids called adiponectin were found.
He explained that the study also showed that the daughters and sons of women who are overweight or obese during pregnancy are born with a higher percentage of body fat, according to the results of fetal ultrasound and the measurements that were made in newborns. This could suggest that they are more likely to be overweight and obese, even when considered normal in size and birth weight.
Similarly, there was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women, probably because the prescribed doses are not sufficient. This deficiency is also related to complications at the end of pregnancy.
The researcher concluded that this unprecedented project in our country also collected relevant information on early nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and neurodevelopment.
When are the results published?
In this context, he reported that the results are expected to allow the generation of a clinical practice guideline and, subsequently, a proposal for an Official Mexican Standard for the care of obese and overweight pregnant women, which provides follow-up for children from birth and during their first years. years of life.
The researcher highlighted that this study will be presented during the institute’s 36th Annual Meeting, entitled “International Links and Strengthening of INPer”, the most important academic event of the year, to be held from April 18 to 21.
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