Validation of a Strict Obesity Definition Proposed for Asians to Predict Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Korean Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND: People are generally considered overweight and obese if their body mass index (BMI) is above 25 kg/m(2) and 30.0 kg/m(2), respectively. The World Health Organization proposed stricter criteria for Asians (≥ 23 kg/m(2): overweight, ≥ 25 kg/m(2): obese). We aimed to verify whether this criteria could predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korean women. METHODS: We included 7,547 Korean women from 12 institutions enrolled between June 2016 and October 2018. Women with no pre-pregnancy BMI data, not Korean, or lost to follow-up were excluded, leaving 6,331. The subjects were categorized into underweight, normal, overweight, class I obesity, and class II/III obesity based on a pre-pregnancy BMI of < 18.5, 18.5–22.9, 23.0–24.9, 25.0–29.9, and ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2), respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 13.4%, 63.0%, 11.8%, 9.1%, and 2.6% of women were underweight, normal, and overweight and had class I obesity and class II/III obesity, respectively. In the multivariable analysis adjusted for maternal age, a higher BMI significantly increased the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery caused by maternal-fetal indications, cesarean section, large for gestational age, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. CONCLUSION: Adverse pregnancy outcomes started to increase in those with a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/m(2) after adjusting for maternal age. The modified obesity criteria could help predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in Koreans.