title: Swedish and American studies show that initiatives to decrease maternal obesity could play a key role in reducing preterm birth.
abstract: Maternal obesity is a major source of preventable perinatal morbidity, but studies of the relationship between obesity and preterm birth have been inconsistent. This review looks at two major studies covering just under 3.5 million births, from California, USA, and Sweden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inconsistent findings in previous studies appear to stem from the complex relationship between obesity and preterm birth. Initiatives to decrease maternal obesity represent an important strategy in reducing preterm birth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Body mass index; Maternal obesity; Preterm birth; Preterm delivery