OBESE MOTHERS
Jane Moore, newspaper columnist, writer and mother looks at the rising numbers of women who are obese during pregnancy. Britain’s obesity epidemic means that nearly 40% of all pregnant women are now either overweight or obese. Jane meets obstetricians across the country, medical experts and the mothers themselves to explore this important issue.
Friday 15th September 7.35pm
Jane Moore, newspaper columnist, writer and mother looks at the rising numbers of women who are obese during pregnancy. Britain’s obesity epidemic means that nearly 40% of all pregnant women are now either overweight or obese. Jane meets obstetricians across the country, medical experts and the mothers themselves to explore this important issue.
Friday 15th September 7.35pm
Jane argues that whereas the risks of alcohol and smoking in pregnancy are widely known, the increased medical risks associated with obesity during pregnancy just aren’t. It’s an issue that we all need to wake up to – because we’re not just talking about the health of the obese expectant mums, but that of their unborn children.
Jane talks to obstetricians and medical experts across the country about their concerns for both mother and child, the serious medical complications they have to deal with and also the new kit they’ve had to bring in - like the new operating tables that have had to be purchased in order to take the weight of the heaviest mothers they now see. Jane explores the very real medical and human costs of the growing phenomena, but also the financial cost implications it’s having on the NHS. She also meets the author of brand new research that suggests fetuses are being pre programmed in the womb to have weight problems throughout the rest of their life.
Jane argues that more needs to be done to combat this growing problem, particularly on the part of the government and sections of the medical establishment to manage and raise awareness of this serious public health issue. She believes that properly informing women of these risks can actually help those with weight issues combat this difficult problem and ultimately, decrease their chances of having a traumatic pregnancy.
Obesity is an issue that the whole of society has to address, and tackling obesity in pregnancy might well be one of the most important ways that we can help reduce it in the next generation.
Jane talks to obstetricians and medical experts across the country about their concerns for both mother and child, the serious medical complications they have to deal with and also the new kit they’ve had to bring in - like the new operating tables that have had to be purchased in order to take the weight of the heaviest mothers they now see. Jane explores the very real medical and human costs of the growing phenomena, but also the financial cost implications it’s having on the NHS. She also meets the author of brand new research that suggests fetuses are being pre programmed in the womb to have weight problems throughout the rest of their life.
Jane argues that more needs to be done to combat this growing problem, particularly on the part of the government and sections of the medical establishment to manage and raise awareness of this serious public health issue. She believes that properly informing women of these risks can actually help those with weight issues combat this difficult problem and ultimately, decrease their chances of having a traumatic pregnancy.
Obesity is an issue that the whole of society has to address, and tackling obesity in pregnancy might well be one of the most important ways that we can help reduce it in the next generation.