Does weight-loss surgery reduce the risk of pregnancy complications in obese women?
More than 50,000 women a year have various types of weight-loss surgery, including gastric (stomach) banding and gastric bypass (8). These procedures usually are recommended only for individuals who are severely obese (BMI of 40 or more, or 232 pounds for a 54 woman) or who have a BMI of 35 or more with other complications (9). Many obese women may be able to lose weight before pregnancy with diet, exercise, behavioral changes and drug treatment. Studies of women who have lost weight following weight-loss surgery suggest that their risk of certain pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, are lower than those of obese women who have not had surgery (8, 9). The risk of newborn complications, including birth defects, premature birth and large size, also appears lower. Fertility also improves in many women, possibly because hormone levels tend to return to normal following weight loss. Health care providers generally recommend that women who have had
