The knowledge of Polish pregnant and lactating women about the risk factors and health consequences of obesity for mother and child

Abstract Background: Obesity is a chronic disease that affects all populations and age groups. The last decade has seen an increase in the incidence of overweight and obesity in women, also during pregnancy. Obesity in a woman who is expecting a baby can have serious health consequences for both her and the fetus, such as: hypertension, diabetes and other non-infectious diseases.Methods: The study was approved by a total of 232 women, including 120 pregnant and 112 lactating women aged 19-42. The study group consisted of women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, breastfeeding and mixed method (breastfeeding and milk replacers). A specially constructed questionnaire consisting of 10 questions was used in the study. Microsoft Excel 2010 and the SPSS 13.3 statistical program were used for the calculations.Results: Among pregnant women, 83.3% of them, and 50% during lactation, did not know the answer to the question of how the Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated. Women expecting a baby were more likely to mention pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes as consequences of overweight and obesity in a pregnant woman. Lactating women more often indicated breastfeeding as a factor protecting their child against obesity.Conclusion: The study shows that it is necessary to thoroughly educate pregnant and lactating women and those planning pregnancy about the risk factors and complications of obesity, especially during pregnancy, because it can affect both the health of the woman and the health of the child, including his body weight, which determines the emergence of many diseases in the future.