Obesity in pregnant women: epidemiological analysis and maternal-fetal implications in Brazil, 2010 to April 2026

epidemiological analysis and maternal-fetal implications in Brazil, 2010 to April 2026

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the evolution of the nutritional status of pregnant women monitored by the Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) from 2010 to April 2026, with emphasis on the increase in overweight and obesity. Methods: This was an epidemiological, observational, descriptive, retrospective, ecological study with a quantitative approach, based on publicly available secondary SISVAN data. Annual records of pregnant women classified according to gestational-week-specific body mass index as underweight, adequate/eutrophic, overweight, or obese were evaluated, including complete data from 2010 to 2025 and partial data from 2026 available through April. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including absolute numbers, relative frequencies, and the combined proportion of excess weight. Results: A total of 11,235,560 records were analyzed. From 2010 to April 2026, the proportion of underweight decreased from 21.06% to 11.31%, and adequate/eutrophic nutritional status decreased from 42.58% to 30.13%. In contrast, overweight increased from 23.23% to 29.49%, and obesity increased from 13.13% to 29.08%, representing the greatest increase observed. From 2020 onward, overweight and obesity together accounted for more than half of the monitored pregnant women, reaching 58.57% in April 2026. Conclusions: A marked change was observed in the nutritional profile of pregnant women monitored by SISVAN, with a progressive shift from eutrophic status to excess weight. This scenario reinforces gestational obesity as a relevant public health issue and highlights the need for nutritional surveillance, pregestational prevention, dietary counseling, safe physical activity, and multidisciplinary prenatal care.