New figures show 56.9% of women giving birth either overweight or obese

A record proportion of women giving birth last year were either overweight or obese, new figures have shown.

National Records of Scotland recorded a total of 48,430 live births across Scotland in 2021-22.

But of those woman giving birth, just two fifths (40.9%) were classed as having a healthy body mass index (BMI) – with 56.9% either overweight or obese.

2.3% were underweight at the time of their booking appointment
40.9% were a healthy weight
29.6% were overweight
27.3% were obese

Public Health Scotland said that the figures showed “maternal obesity continued to increase” and that this total was the “highest since reporting began”.

As well as the 29.6% of women giving birth who were overweight and the 27.3% who were obese, there were also 2.3% who were classed as being underweight.

The figures also showed the continuing trend for women to have babies later in life in 2021-22.

Almost a quarter (24.7%) of women giving birth – regardless of whether the child was their first baby or not – were aged 35 or older.

Meanwhile, the proportion of women who gave birth under the age of 20 fell to its lowest recorded total – with just 2.3% of births involving women in this age group.

Births by Caesarean sections continued to increase, with a record 37.6% of infants delivered this way in pregnancies where there was only one baby.

The report noted: “While older women are more likely to have a Caesarean section, there is an increasing tendency for this method of delivery across all age groups.”

Almost a quarter (23.5%) of women under 20 giving birth delivered their baby by Caesarean section in 2021-22, with this proportion rising to more than half (55.4%) of women aged 40 and over.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Addressing obesity and reducing health inequalities is a clear priority for the Scottish Government. Our 2018 diet and healthy weight delivery plan sets out action to support everyone to eat well and have a healthy weight.

“We will introduce a Bill in 2022-23 to restrict less healthy food and drink promotions to make it easier for people to make healthier choices.”