This email is about data, not shame. I am going to give you specific numbers. What you do with them is your decision. But you deserve to have the actual data that your doctor may not have time to explain.
What BMI Predicts
Body mass index is an imperfect measure. It does not distinguish muscle from fat. An athletic woman at BMI 27 is metabolically different from a sedentary woman at BMI 27. That is a legitimate criticism. But at the population level, BMI remains the best available screening tool for predicting pregnancy complications, because the data behind it is massive and consistent.
Here is what the numbers show. For gestational diabetes, the risk at a normal BMI (18.5-24.9) is about 2-4%. At BMI 30-34.9 (obesity class I), the risk is 6-10%. At BMI 40 or above (obesity class III), the risk exceeds 12-15%. A similar gradient applies to preeclampsia: roughly 3-4% at normal BMI, rising to 8-12% at BMI above 35. Cesarean delivery rates follow the same pattern (1).
ObGyn Intelligence: Safety analysis, the evidence critique, and the verdict are below -- for subscribers who want the full picture.
