Pregnancy, Diabetes and Obesity – Prevention of Obesity in the Next Generation

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a widely occurring disorder, and obesity is its main feature. As the burden of obesity is increasing steadily, it leads to the increasing prevalence of diabetes, as well as of the most common non-communicable diseases. A comprehensive approach for the prevention of obesity appears to constitute the most effective intervention to reduce their prevalence worldwide. Numerous measures were applied to treat obesity and prevent its complications, of them different types of diet, physical activity, behavioral programs, pharmacologic interventions, and surgical treatments – but all of them have a significant degree of dropping-off and weight-regain over time. In this review we highlight pregnancy as a key period in a woman’s life, which can improve compliance with these programs and affect the next generation’s health, breaking the vicious cycle of family obesity