“One recent study of 600
women found that women
with a BMI of more than 27
were three times more likely to
be infertile than women of a
healthy weight. This is because
obesity causes anovulation
(where no egg is released by
the ovary).
“Obesity also contributes to
pregnancy complications, such
as pre-diabetes, bigger babies,
pre-eclampsia, and increases the
risk of having a C-Section up to
seven-fold.”
And, healthy eating during
pregnancy doesn’t just help with
weight loss, it can also impact
the baby years down the trackphysically and psychologically.
Data from a Norwegian
Mother and Child Cohort study
of 23,000 women identified
that when nutritional diet was
poor during pregnancy, children
were likely to grow up withsignificantly more behavioural
issues.
However, with two in three
Australians now overweight, Dr
Bakal concedes there’s “no magic
bullet” solution for weight loss,
and says the most important
takeaway is recognising the
difference between losing weight
to “be thin” and losing weight to
“be healthy”.
“Just small changes can make
a big difference,” she says. “One
study found that when 6.3kg
(on average) was lost, nearly all
of the women in the weight loss
group fell pregnant within a year,
compared to none of the women
who did not lose weight.” ■more
reasons
to lose
10 per cent
1 You’ll feel better
2 You’ll look better
3 You’ll move better
4 You’ll sleep better
5 You’ll gain more
confidence6 Your workouts will
be easier7 You’ll make new
fitness friends8 Your mood will
improve9 You’ll add years
to your life10 And life to
your years10
Obesity
increases
the risk
of 11 types
W of cancer
O
RD
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O
TO
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IM
AG
ES
diabetic living MAY/JUNE 2019 99