Comparative study between outcomes of pregnant women with GDM with obesity and pregnant omen with GDM without obesity

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare pregnancy outcomes in women with GDM who were obese (BMI ?30 kg/m²) versus those with normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m²).

Methodology: A comparative cohort analysis was conducted involving 100 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM using IADPSG criteria, 50 with obesity and 50 with normal BMI. Outcomes assessed included mode of delivery, gestational weight gain, prevalence of hypertensive disorders, neonatal birth weight, and frequency of fetal hypertrophy.

Results: No statistically significant difference was observed in mode of delivery between the two groups (?²=2.15; df=1; p>0.05). However, obese women demonstrated significantly greater gestational weight gain (mean 15.30 kg vs. 10.58 kg; t=-27.05; df=98; p<0.001). Hypertensive disorders were markedly more prevalent in the obese cohort (26.0% vs. 2.0%; ?²=11.96; df=1; p<0.001). Neonatal birth weight was significantly higher among infants born to obese mothers (mean 3611.4 g vs. 3238.8 g; t=-12.48; df=98; p<0.001), and hypertrophic newborns were substantially more frequent in the obese group (22.0% vs. 4.0%; ?²=7.16; df=1; p<0.01).

Conclusion: Maternal obesity in the context of GDM is independently associated with excessive gestational weight gain, gestational hypertension, elevated neonatal birth weight, and a significantly higher prevalence of fetal hypertrophy. These findings underscore the imperative for targeted preconception weight optimization and rigorous antenatal surveillance in this high-risk population.