Prepregnancy Body Mass Index by Maternal Characteristics and State: Data From the Birth Certificate, 2014

A new NCHS report describes prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) among women giving birth in 2014 for the 47-state and District of Columbia reporting areas that implemented the 2003 U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth by January 1, 2014.

Findings:

• Among women giving birth in 2014, 3.8% were underweight (BMI is less than 18.5), 45.9% were of normal weight (BMI is 18.5–24.9), 25.6% were overweight (BMI is 25.0–29.9), and 24.8% were obese (BMI is greater than 29.9) before becoming pregnant.
• The prevalence of overweight and obesity before pregnancy was lowest among women under age 20, non-Hispanic Asian women, women with at least a college degree, women giving birth for the first time, and women using self-payment for delivery.
• Women with obesity before pregnancy were more likely to be older (aged 40–54), non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native, at least partially college educated, to have had three previous births or more, or using Medicaid for payment of delivery.
• Prepregnancy obesity prevalence increased in 30 of the 37 reporting areas that adopted the 2003 certificate in 2011 and 2014.