Prepregnancy Obesity and Birth Outcomes

Objective To investigate the association between prepregnancy obesity and birth outcomes using fixed effect models comparing siblings from the same mother. Methods A total of 7496 births to 3990 mothers from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 survey are examined. Outcomes include macrosomia, gestational length, incidence of low birthweight, preterm birth, large and small for gestational age (LGA, SGA), c-section, infant doctor visits, mother’s and infant’s days in hospital post-partum, whether the mother breastfed, and duration of breastfeeding. Association of outcomes with maternal pre-pregnancy obesity was examined using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to compare across mothers and fixed effects to compare within families. Results In fixed effect models we find no statistically significant association between most outcomes and prepregnancy obesity with the exception of LGA, SGA, low birth weight, and preterm birth. We find that prepregnancy obesity is associated with a with lower risk of low birthweight, SGA, and preterm birth but controlling for prepregnancy obesity, increases in GWG lead to increased risk of LGA. Conclusions Contrary to previous studies, which have found that maternal obesity increases the risk of c-section, macrosomia, and LGA, while decreasing the probability of breastfeeding, our sibling comparison models reveal no such association. In fact, our results suggest a protective effect of obesity in that women who are obese prepregnancy have longer gestation lengths, and are less likely to give birth to a preterm or low birthweight infant.     

Diet Modification before or during Pregnancy on Maternal and Foetal Outcomes in Rodent Models of Maternal Obesity

The obesity epidemic has serious implications for women of reproductive age; its rising incidence is associated not just with health implications for the mother but also has transgenerational ramifications for the offspring. Increased incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and kidney disease are seen in both the mothers and the offspring. Animal models, such as rodent studies, are fundamental to studying maternal obesity and its impact on maternal and offspring health, as human studies lack rigorous controlled experimental design. Furthermore, the short and prolific reproductive potential of rodents enables examination across multiple generations and facilitates the exploration of interventional strategies to mitigate the impact of maternal obesity, both before and during pregnancy. Given that obesity is a major public health concern, it is important to obtain a greater understanding of its pathophysiology and interaction with reproductive health, placental physiology, and foetal development. This narrative review focuses on the known effects of maternal obesity on the mother and the offspring, and the benefits of interventional strategies, including dietary intervention, before or during pregnancy on maternal and foetal outcomes. It further examines the contribution of rodent models of maternal obesity to elucidating pathophysiological pathways of disease development, as well as methods to reduce the impact of obesity on the mothers and the developing foetus. The translation of these findings into the human experience will also be discussed.     

Maternal Employment During Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes: Evidence From Danish Siblings

I use Danish survey and administrative data to examine the impact of maternal employment during pregnancy on birth outcomes. As healthier mothers are more likely to work and health shocks to mothers may impact employment and birth outcomes, I combine two strategies: First, I control extensively for time‐varying factors that may correlate with employment and birth outcomes, such as pre‐pregnancy family income and maternal occupation, pregnancy‐related health shocks, maternal sick listing, and health behaviors (smoking and alcohol consumption). Second, to account for remaining time‐invariant heterogeneity between mothers, I compare outcomes of mothers’ consecutive children. Mothers who work during the first pregnancy trimester have a lower risk of preterm birth. I find no effect on the probability of having a baby of small size for gestational age. To rule out that health selection of mothers between pregnancies drives the results, I focus on mothers whose change in employment status is likely not to be driven by underlying health (mothers who are students in one of their pregnancies and mothers with closely spaced births). Given generous welfare benefits and strict workplace regulations in Denmark, my findings support a residual explanation, namely, that exclusion from employment may stress mothers in countries with high‐female employment rates. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

超重及肥胖对女性体外受精-胚胎移植结局的影响

目的：评估超重及肥胖对女性体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）结局的影响。方法：回顾性分析2010年1月—2011年12月516例行IVF-ET助孕治疗、年龄＜38岁的女性患者的临床资料。入选患者按体质量指数（BMI）分为2组：BMI正常组（A组,BMI 18.5～24.9 kg/m2）467例;超重及肥胖组（B组,BMI≥25 kg/m2）49例。分析其IVF新鲜取卵周期的相关指标及治疗结局。结果：B组患者较A组患者促性腺激素（Gn）使用时间长和Gn用量多,人绒毛膜促性腺激素（hCG）日血清雌二醇（E2）水平低（均P＜0.05）。2组患者获卵数差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。A组患者卵子受精率高于B组（χ2=8.102,P=0.004）,2组患者种植率、临床妊娠率及活产率差异均无统计学意义。结论：超重及肥胖可导致IVF-ET治疗过程中Gn使用时间延长、Gn用量增加,受精率降低,可能对IVF-ET结局有负面影响。     

Ethnic Density Effects on Birth Outcomes and Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy in the US Linked Birth and Infant Death Data Set

Objectives. We investigated whether mothers from ethnic minority groups have better pregnancy outcomes when they live in counties with higher densities of people from the same ethnic group—despite such areas tending to be more socioeconomically deprived.Methods. In a population-based US study, we used multilevel logistic regression analysis to test whether same-ethnic density was associated with maternal smoking in pregnancy, low birthweight, preterm delivery, and infant mortality among 581 151 Black and 763 201 Hispanic mothers and their infants, with adjustment for maternal and area-level characteristics.Results. Higher levels of same-ethnic density were associated with reduced odds of infant mortality among Hispanic mothers, and reduced odds of smoking during pregnancy for US-born Hispanic and Black mothers. For Black mothers, moderate levels of same-ethnic density were associated with increased risk of low birthweight and preterm delivery; high levels of same ethnic density had no additional effect.Conclusions. Our results suggest that for Hispanic mothers, in contrast to Black mothers, the advantages of shared culture, social networks, and social capital protect maternal and infant health.Numerous studies have shown that living in a socioeconomically deprived neighborhood exerts a contextual effect on the health of individual residents beyond their own socioeconomic status.^1,2 This is likely to have a differential impact on some ethnic minority groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics. (Throughout this paper we have defined “ethnicity” as a global indicator of a person''s heritage including both racial and ethnic origins.) Whereas the majority of poor White people live in nondeprived areas, poor African Americans are concentrated in areas of high poverty.³ Thus, it might be paradoxical to suggest that members of ethnic minority groups might be healthier when they live in areas with a high concentration of people of the same ethnicity.^4,5 However, there is some evidence that living in communities that contain proportionally more people from the same ethnic group is protective for some health outcomes, once material deprivation is accounted for. The evidence for the protective effects of same-ethnic density is strongest for mental health,^4,5 with the evidence for maternal and infant health outcomes more mixed.The majority of studies that have investigated the impact of same-ethnic density on maternal and infant health have focused on African Americans or Black families (in this article, we use whichever term was used in the studies we describe). Two older ecological studies^6,7 found that increasing levels of same-ethnic density for New York City African Americans were associated with increased fetal and neonatal mortality but not postneonatal mortality. Another study found no association between ethnic density measured in US cities and postneonatal mortality.⁸ More recent studies have tended to use multilevel analyses that controlled for individual-level measures of socioeconomic status, and focused on measures of morbidity, such as low birthweight (LBW), with less consistent results.^9–14One study of Chicago neighborhoods found that an increasing proportion of African American residents was associated with a reduced risk of LBW.¹³ Two other studies found that an increasing proportion of Black residents was associated with increased risk of LBW.^11,14 However, other studies have found no significant associations between same-ethnic density and LBW.^9,10,12Five studies have investigated the impact of ethnic density on preterm delivery rates among African Americans.^{9,10,12,15,16} Studies of neighborhoods in Minnesota⁹ and North Carolina¹⁵ found same-ethnic density to be associated with increased risk of preterm delivery after adjustment for individual but not area measures of socioeconomic circumstances. Three other studies found no association between same-ethnic density and preterm delivery in models that included individual-level maternal education and area-level measures of socioeconomic circumstances.^10,12,16We are aware of only 1 study that has investigated the impact of same-ethnic density on maternal smoking during pregnancy, which found that it was associated with reduced risk of maternal smoking after adjustment for both individual and area measures of socioeconomic conditions.¹⁷We found only 2 studies that have investigated the impact of ethnic density on Hispanic maternal and infant health. The first, conducted in the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, found lower rates of infant mortality for US-born Mexican-origin mothers living in counties with high concentrations of mothers of the same ethnicity.¹⁸ However, this effect was not found for mothers born outside the United States. The second study found no associations between same-ethnic density, as measured in Chicago census tracts, and LBW, preterm delivery, and maternal smoking after adjustment for economic disadvantage, maternal education, and violent crime.¹²Further support for the protective effects of Hispanic density comes from the “Hispanic paradox.”¹⁹ Compared with the White majority population, Hispanic mothers tend to have better or equal pregnancy outcomes and better health-related behaviors despite generally having more disadvantaged socioeconomic circumstances.^20–24 It has been proposed that this “paradox” can be explained by dietary factors, social support and cohesion, and cultural differences in relation to the importance of motherhood.^23,24 However, long-term US residents who move away from ethnic enclaves²⁵ are more likely to adopt Western health behaviors and values²⁶ and may lose any protective effects of Hispanic culture. Thus, the protective effects of Hispanic culture are more likely to be maintained in communities of higher Hispanic density.We hypothesized that maternal smoking during pregnancy, infant mortality, LBW, and preterm birth would be lower for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic White (hereafter referred to as “Hispanic mothers”) mothers living in counties with a higher percentage of people of the same ethnicity, relative to their counterparts living in counties with a low percentage of people of the same ethnicity.     

The Influence of Maternal Mobility on Birth Outcomes of non-Hispanic Blacks

Background We investigated whether the “healthy migrant” effect is applicable to an internally mobile U.S.-born population, that is, whether infants born to women that moved within the United States had better birth outcomes compared to those infants whose mothers did not move. Methods This study used 1995–2001 National Center for Health Statistics live birth/infant death cohort files of singleton infants born in the U.S. to non-Hispanic Black women. Results Infants born to women who moved had significantly lower risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and SGA compared to the non-mobile group. Conclusions There is evidence to support the healthy migrant effect in an internally migrant Black population. The findings of this study suggest infants of non-Hispanic Black mothers who were born in one state and moved prior to delivery had more positive birth outcomes when compared to those infants of women who did not move prior to delivery. Greg R. Alexander is deceased.     

The Relation of Maternal Birth Weight to African-American and Non-Latina White Twin Pregnancy Outcomes: A Population-Based Study

Objectives The authors investigated the association between maternal birth weight and adverse birth outcome as measured by rates of low birth weight (<2500 g, LBW), preterm birth (<37 weeks, PTB), and small for gestational age (weight <10th percentile for gestational age, SGA) among African American and White twin pregnancies. Methods Stratified and multivariable regression analyses were performed on the Illinois transgenerational dataset of non-Latina African American and non-Latina White twin pairs (born 1989–1991) and their mothers (born 1956–1976). Results Former LBW (n = 104) and non-LBW (n = 742) African American mothers had LBW rates in both twins of 76 and 56 %, respectively; RR (95 % CI) = 1.4 (1.2–1.6). Former LBW (n = 105) and non-LBW (n = 2136) White mothers had LBW rates in both twins of 41 and 34 %, respectively; RR = 1.2 (0.9–1.5). In multivariable regression models, the adjusted (controlling for maternal age, education, marital status, parity, prenatal care usage, and cigarette smoking) RR of LBW in both twins among former LBW (compared to non-LBW) African American and White mothers equaled 1.4 (1.2–1.6) and 1.2 (0.9–1.5), respectively. Maternal LBW was associated with a modestly increased risk of PTB but not SGA among African American twin pregnancies: adjusted RR = 1.3 (1.1–1.4) and 1.1 (0.8–1.5), respectively. Conclusions In African American twin pregnancies, maternal LBW is a risk factor for LBW in both twins. Further research is needed to determine whether a similar generational association occurs among non-Latina White twin pregnancies.     

The Influence of Objectively Measured Physical Activity During Pregnancy on Maternal and Birth Outcomes in Urban Black South African Women

Objectives Research indicates the beneficial effects of physical activity during pregnancy on maternal health, although controversy still exists regarding its influence on birth outcomes. Little research has been done to objectively measure physical activity during pregnancy in black African women from low-to-middle income countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physical activity and maternal and birth outcomes in this unique population. Methods This observational, longitudinal study assessed total physical activity using a hip-mounted triaxial accelerometer at 14–18 weeks (second trimester, n?=?120) and 29–33 weeks (third trimester, n?=?90) gestation. Physical activity is expressed as gravity-based acceleration units (mg). Maternal outcomes included both weight and weight gain at 29–33 weeks gestation. Birth outcomes included gestational age, birth weight, ponderal index and Apgar score, measured within 48 h of delivery. Results There was a significant decline in physical activity from the second to the third trimester (12.8?±?4.1 mg vs. 9.7?±?3.6 mg, p?≤?0.01). Physical activity at 29–33 weeks as well as a change in PA was inversely associated with weight change at 29–33 weeks (β?=???0.24; 95% CI ??0.49; ??0.00; p?=?0.05 and β?=???0.36; 95% CI ??0.62; ??0.10; p?=?0.01, respectively). No significant associations were found between physical activity and birth outcomes. Conclusions for Practice Physical activity during pregnancy may be an effective method to control gestational weight gain, whilst presenting no adverse risk for fetal development, in women from a low-income urban setting.     

不同分娩方式对孕产妇分娩结局及新生儿的影响

目的：研究不同分娩方式对孕产妇分娩结局和新生儿的影响。方法：随机选择本院自然临产患者53例为A组,选择择期引产患者43例为B组,将A、B组分娩结局、分娩时间、分娩方式、新生儿阿氏评分等临床资料进行回顾性研究。结果：A组自然临产患者分娩时间少于B组,剖腹产率低于B组,分娩后并发症发生率低于B组,新生儿阿氏评分高于B组。结论：自然分娩患者分娩产时损伤较大,但剖腹产率和产后并发症发生率低,新生儿身体状况较好。     

The Associations of Maternal Hemoglobin Concentration in Different Time Points and Its Changes during Pregnancy with Birth Weight Outcomes

Maternal hemoglobin (Hb) is related to nutritional status, which affects neonatal birth weight. However, it is very common for maternal Hb to fluctuate during pregnancy. To evaluate the associations of maternal Hb in different time points and its changes during pregnancy with neonatal birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA)/low birth weight (LBW) and large for gestational age (LGA)/macrosomia, we conducted this study by using data from the Electronic Medical Record System (EMRS) database of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Care Hospital in Zhejiang province, China. The pregnancy was divided into five periods: first, early-second, mediate-second, late-second, early-third and late-third trimesters; we further calculated the maternal Hb changes during pregnancy. Overall, the socio-demographic characteristics, health-related information and childbirth-related information of 24,183 mother–infant pairs were obtained. The average Hb concentration during the different periods were 123.95 ± 10.14, 117.95 ± 9.84, 114.31 ± 9.03, 113.26 ± 8.82, 113.29 ± 8.68 and 115.01 ± 8.85 g/L, respectively. Significant dose–response relationships between maternal Hb and birth weight were observed in the first, late-second and later trimesters (p non-linear < 0.05). Maternal Hb < 100 g/L was related to a high risk of LGA/macrosomia in the late-second (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.83) and later trimesters; additionally, high maternal Hb (>140 g/L) increased the risk of SGA/LBW in the first (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.57) and late-third trimesters (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.18). In addition, the increase in maternal Hb from the late-second to late-third trimesters had a positive correlation with SGA/LBW. In conclusion, maternal Hb markedly fluctuated during pregnancy; the negative dose–response association of maternal Hb in the late-second and third trimesters, and Hb change during pregnancy with neonatal birth weight outcomes were observed, respectively. Furthermore, the phenomenon of high Hb in the first trimester and after the late-second trimester and the increase of maternal Hb from the late-second to late-third trimesters more significantly increasing the risk of SGA/LBW should especially be given more attention. Its biological mechanism needs to be further explored.     

Maternal Iron Status in Pregnancy and Child Health Outcomes after Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

In pregnancy, iron deficiency and iron overload increase the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, but the effects of maternal iron status on long-term child health are poorly understood. The aim of the study was to systematically review and analyze the literature on maternal iron status in pregnancy and long-term outcomes in the offspring after birth. We report a systematic review on maternal iron status during pregnancy in relation to child health outcomes after birth, from database inception until 21 January 2021, with methodological quality rating (Newcastle-Ottawa tool) and random-effect meta-analysis. (PROSPERO, CRD42020162202). The search identified 8139 studies, of which 44 were included, describing 12,7849 mother–child pairs. Heterogeneity amongst the studies was strong. Methodological quality was predominantly moderate to high. Iron status was measured usually late in pregnancy. The majority of studies compared categories based on maternal ferritin, however, definitions of iron deficiency differed across studies. The follow-up period was predominantly limited to infancy. Fifteen studies reported outcomes on child iron status or hemoglobin, 20 on neurodevelopmental outcomes, and the remainder on a variety of other outcomes. In half of the studies, low maternal iron status or iron deficiency was associated with adverse outcomes in children. Meta-analyses showed an association of maternal ferritin with child soluble transferrin receptor concentrations, though child ferritin, transferrin saturation, or hemoglobin values showed no consistent association. Studies on maternal iron status above normal, or iron excess, suggest deleterious effects on infant growth, cognition, and childhood Type 1 diabetes. Maternal iron status in pregnancy was not consistently associated with child iron status after birth. The very heterogeneous set of studies suggests detrimental effects of iron deficiency, and possibly also of overload, on other outcomes including child neurodevelopment. Studies are needed to determine clinically meaningful definitions of iron deficiency and overload in pregnancy.     

孕期发热对妊娠结局影响的研究

目的探讨孕期发热(体温》38℃)对妊娠结局的影响.方法采用产科记录结合问卷调查,收集了北京市8所医院妇产科在1992年5月-1993年4月之间分娩的12 224例初产妇妊娠及妊娠结局资料,并获取有关孕期发热及一般情况资料,从中抽取孕期曾有发热史的产例(发热组)以及孕期无发热史的产例(对照组)分别组成队列,分析孕期发热与不良妊娠结局有无关联,采用Logistic回归分析,调整产妇年龄、自然流产史、孕期患糖尿病史、孕期职业有害因素接触史、孕期吸烟、孕期饮酒等混杂因素.结果孕期曾有发热史的产妇占产妇总数的9.7%.发热组先兆流产、早产、低出生体重儿、宫内发育迟缓、新生儿中枢神经系统畸形、新生儿窒息及新生儿死亡的发生率增高,与对照组比较,差异有显著性(P《0.05).Logistic回归分析结果与单因素分析结果一致.结论孕妇孕期发热(体温》38℃)与不良妊娠结局,特别是与新生儿中枢神经系统畸形的发生间具有一定关联.     

孕期个体化营养指导对妊娠结局及新生儿出生体质量的影响

目的 探讨孕期个体化营养指导对妊娠结局及新生儿出生体质量的影响.方法 选择2011年6月至2012年6月于甘肃省妇幼保健院产科建卡、定期产检且住院分娩的300例单胎孕妇为研究对象,按照建卡时是否接受孕期个体化营养指导,将其分为研究组（n=150,孕期接受个体化营养指导）和对照组（n=150,孕期未接受个体化营养指导）.两组孕妇的年龄、孕前体质量、身高及孕前体质量指数（BMI）等一般临床资料比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）.比较分析两组孕妇的分娩方式、会阴侧切率、孕前BMI正常孕妇孕期体质量增长及新生儿出生体质量等（本研究遵循的程序符合甘肃省妇幼保健院伦理委员会制定的伦理学标准,得到该委员会批准,分组征得受试对象的知情同意,并与之签署临床研究知情同意书）.结果 研究组与对照组的分娩方式、孕前BMI正常孕妇孕期体质量增长、新生儿出生体质量比较,差异均有统计学意义（χ2=6.72,7.19,16.16,P〈0.05）.研究组与对照组的会阴侧切率比较（26.79% vs.29.67%）,差异无统计学意义（χ2=0.21,P〉0.05）.结论 孕期进行个体化营养指导有利于降低剖宫产率,控制孕期体质量增长及新生儿出生体质量于正常范围.     

The Couple Context of Pregnancy and its Effects on Prenatal Care and Birth Outcomes

The couple context of pregnancy and newborn health is gaining importance with the increase in births to unmarried couples, a disproportionate number of which were not intended. This study investigates the association of early prenatal care, preterm birth, and low birth weight with the couple relationship context, including partners’ joint intentions for the pregnancy, their marital status at conception, and the presence of relationship problems during pregnancy. Data are drawn from the first wave of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study––Birth Cohort, a representative study of births in 2001. The sample is composed of parents residing together with their biological child at the time the child is 9 months old, where both the mother and father completed the self-report interview (N = 5,788). Couple-level multivariate logistic regression models, weighted to account for the complex sampling design, were used in the analysis. Risk of inadequate prenatal care and preterm birth was increased when partners did not share intentions or when neither partner intended the pregnancy. Couples were at additional risk of inadequate prenatal care when the pregnancy was conceived nonmaritally and when the mother did not tell the father about the pregnancy, particularly when neither partner intended the pregnancy. The risk of premature birth was particularly high when the partners were unmarried and either or both did not intend the pregnancy. The couple context of pregnancy is important for a healthy pregnancy and birth. When the partner is present, practitioners and programs should maintain a focus on the couple, and researchers should make every effort to include the father’s own perspective.     

Pregnancy Intendedness,Maternal Psychosocial Factors and Preterm Birth

Objectives: This study examined associations between reported pregnancy intendedness and several maternal psychosocial factors in relation to preterm birth (<37 weeks' completed gestation). Methods: Women were recruited into a prospective cohort study between the 24th and 29th weeks of pregnancy in central North Carolina from 1996 to 2000. Prior to delivery, participants responded to questions about pregnancy intendedness, life events impacts, depressive symptoms, and coping style. Results: Women who reported not intending their pregnancy had increased odds of reporting low, medium and high levels of perceived stress during pregnancy (OR = 1.4 [95% CI: 1.1, 1.9], OR = 2.2 [95% CI: 1.7, 2.8], and OR = 3.4 [95% CI: 2.6, 4.5], respectively, relative to very low), medium and high levels of depressive symptoms (OR = 2.2 [95% CI: 1.8, 2.9] and OR = 3.1 [95% CI: 2.4, 3.9], respectively), and medium and high levels of several coping styles. Reporting not intending the pregnancy was not associated with increased risk of preterm birth (Risk Ratio [RR] = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.8, 1.1), but reporting the highest quartile of perceived stress (RR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.3) and the highest tertile of distancing coping style (compared with lowest quartile) was associated with preterm birth (RR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9). Interactions between pregnancy intendedness and the psychosocial variables perceived stress, depression or coping style did not modify the psychosocial variable's associations with preterm birth. Conclusions: Pregnancy intendedness remains an important concept in the reproductive health literature integrally tied to indicators of maternal mental health, but not necessarily to pregnancy outcomes.     

Maternal Nativity Status and Birth Outcomes in Asian Immigrants

Background The study examines the relationship between maternal nativity, maternal risks and birth outcomes in six Asian sub-populations. Methods U.S.- versus foreign-born immigrants of Chinese (67,222), Japanese (18,275) and Filipino (87,1208), Vietnamese (45,229), Cambodian/Laotian (21,237), and Korean (23,430) singleton live births were assessed for maternal risks and birth outcomes. Results U.S.-born Chinese and Japanese mothers had lower risk and increased preterm births but similar infant mortality, while U.S.-born Filipino mothers had higher risk and higher infant mortality. U.S.-born mothers of more recent Cambodian/Laotian and Vietnamese immigrants had higher risk and delivered more small and preterm births, while U.S.-born Korean mothers had higher risk but no differences in preterm and low birthweight delivery. Discussion Asians in America are a distinctly heterogenous population in terms of the relationship between maternal risk factors and birth outcomes and the influence of maternal nativity on this relationship.     

Impact of Overweight and Obesity on Functional and Clinical Outcomes of Early Parkinson's Disease

ObjectiveTo determine whether being overweight or obese contributes to disease progression and functional status in Parkinson's disease (PD).DesignCohort study using data from the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).Setting and ParticipantsA total of 399 drug-naive patients with early PD were classified into normal weight (body mass index of 18.5–24.9, n = 139), overweight (25.0–29.9, n = 167), and obese (30.0 or more, n = 93) groups.MethodsThe primary outcome was the development of functional dependency. Functional dependency was defined as a Schwab and England score of less than 80% at any time point that remained throughout follow-up. The secondary outcomes were the changes in the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor score measured in the off-medication state and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score across visits.ResultsOver a 5-year follow-up period, the incidence of functional dependency was higher in the obese group than in the normal weight group (P = .001). No difference was observed between the overweight and normal weight groups (P = .429). The multivariable Cox model confirmed that obesity, but not overweight, increased the risk of dependency (hazard ratio 2.63, 95% confidence interval 1.32–5.23, P = .006). The increase in the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor score was greater in the obesity (P < .001) and overweight (P = .004) groups than in the normal weight group. Changes in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score did not differ among the groups (P = .978).Conclusions and ImplicationsWe found that obesity is related to an increased risk of functional dependency and rapid motor progression in patients with early PD. Although being overweight did not increase the risk of dependency, this condition was associated with rapid motor progression.