WOMEN’S HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE REFORM

It has been documented, for example, that high maternal pre-pregnancy weight and excessive weight gain during pregnancy are often associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including greater risks of gestational diabetes, childbirth complications, caesarean sections, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, and post-partum obesity. Women with severe (morbid) obesity are more likely to experience even poorer outcomes such as stillbirths or neonatal deaths. Studies have shown that obesity is frequently associated with hormonal and menstrual disorders, as well as with polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, and higher risks of endometrial, ovarian, cervical, and breast cancer. It has also been reported that obesity may reduce the...