Royal College To Discuss Implications Of Obesity On Reproductive Health, UK

Obesity is a major public health issue of our time and the influence on maternal and fetal wellbeing is wide-ranging, currently 56% of women in the UK are classed as obese.


This Monday the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) will hold a follow up meeting to its 53rd Study Group - Obesity and Reproduction.


Almost every aspect of female reproductive health is affected by obesity, including increased chances of infertility, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, fetal abnormalities and long term health problems. Obesity also creates difficulties regarding ultrasound scanning and surgery and is present in 35% of maternal deaths in the United Kingdom.


The RCOG event will give a comprehensive review of the effects of obesity on reproductive health and how the risks can be best managed. It will also look at managing surgical and anaesthetic risks, influences on PCOS and the long and short-term effects of maternal obesity on future risks for offspring.


The programme includes sessions on:


- Ethnic and social variations

Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Glasgow


- Menstrual disturbance

Miss Si??n Jones, Consultant Gynaecologist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bradford Royal Infirmary


- Contraception

Dr Diana Mansour, Consultant Community Gynaecologist, Graingerville Clinic, Newcastle General Hospital


- PCO and Infertility

Professor Adam Balen, IVF Unit, Leeds General Infirmary


- Obesity and pregnancy conflicts


- Dr Jane Ramsay, Consultant Obstetrician, Ayrshire Maternity Unit, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock


- Influence of exercise and diet in pregnancy

Dr Lisa Bodnar, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA


For further information, including a full programme please click here.

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