The measurement of maternal adiposity.
The issue of maternal obesity has become a major public health problem. Internationally, the diagnosis of obesity is based on body mass index (BMI) that is, weight in kg/height in m2. While epidemiological associations have been shown between different BMI categories and adverse clinical outcomes, there is also a growing realisation that BMI has significant limitations. In this review, we assess current methods to measure body fat and, in particular, their application in pregnant women.
Fattah
C
C
UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Farah
N
N
Barry
S
S
O'Connor
N
N
Stuart
B
B
Turner
M J
MJ
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003720:Densitometry; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy