title: Assessment and management of obesity.
abstract: Obesity is a serious medical condition that significantly impacts the health of pregnant and nonpregnant women. Although obstetrician-gynecologists have reported that they are knowledgeable of the health risks associated with obesity, they have also reported that their knowledge of weight assessment and management is inadequate. The purpose of this article is to review the proper procedures for assessing and managing obesity. By properly assessing obesity and constructing individualized weight management plans for those affected, obstetrician-gynecologists can help reduce the prevalence of obesity in women of childbearing ages.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  After completion of this article, the reader should be able to explain the impact of obesity on the health of nonpregnant and pregnant women, summarize the methods of distinguishing overweight from obesity, and recall the proper weight management programs for and assessments of obesity in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC 20024, USA.
authors.forename: Angela D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zinberg
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulkin
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents