The Burden of Obesity in North Carolina Obesity-Related Chronic Disease

More than half (53%) of all deaths of North Carolinians are preventable. Overweight and obesity are significantly associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status. Inadequate fruits and vegetables, lack of leisure time physical activity, obesity, and overweight make up 80% of N.C.s risk factor or behaviors.

Preventable Causes of Death in N.C. State Center for Health Statistics, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, (2007).

The Burden of Obesity in North Carolina Reproductive Complications

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) A surveillance system used by CDC and state health departments to collect state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. A surveillance system used by CDC and state health departments to collect state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. Process of administering PRAMS: Process of administering PRAMS: The PRAMS sample of women who have had a recent live birth is drawn from the state's birth certificate file. The PRAMS sample of women who have had a recent live birth is drawn from the state's birth certificate file. Each participating state samples between 1,300 and 3,400 women per year. Each participating state samples between 1,300 and 3,400 women per year. Women from some groups are sampled at a higher rate to ensure adequate data are available in smaller but higher risk populations. Women from some groups are sampled at a higher rate to ensure adequate data are available in smaller but higher risk populations. Selected women are first contacted by mail. If there is no response to repeated mailings, women are contacted and interviewed by telephone. Selected women are first contacted by mail. If there is no response to repeated mailings, women are contacted and interviewed by telephone.

Reproductive Complications There is evidence linking obesity to early pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss. There is evidence linking obesity to early pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss. Among obese pregnant women, the risk of developing pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes is significantly greater than it is among women with lower BMIs. Among obese pregnant women, the risk of developing pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes is significantly greater than it is among women with lower BMIs.

Obesity Among N.C. Mothers

Reproductive Complications – Mothers and Babies Obese women are more likely to become diabetic, hypertensive, and develop pre-eclampsia during their pregnancies. Infants of obese women are at elevated risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and other fetal abnormalities, as well as still birth and neonatal death. Infants born to obese mothers are not only at risk of being of high birth weight (>9.9 lbs), but are at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome.