Pregnant women with a BMI over 25 will be warned they face extra risks under new health guidelines released by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence(NICE)

Doctors and nurses will tell pregnant women that they are more likely to require emergency cesarian, their babies may need specialist care and the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death rises, under the new NICE proposals.

The new warnings are said to be needed as over half of women who fall pregnant are overweight.

According to the latest estimates, about 59 percent of women and 69 percent of men are overweight or obese.

This includes expectant mothers which is why the guidance has been updated for health professionals.

Chairman of the National Obesity Forum, Tam Fry, said more must be done to reduce obesity before pregnancy.

He told the Daily Mail online: “It is completely right that NICE had revised its guidelines, but it is a sad reflection of the ever-increasing obesity epidemic.

“It is vital that females of childbearing age are healthy before conceiving – for both their own health and that of their babies.

“More needs to be done to turn the tide on this national disgrace.”

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service(BPAS) welcomed the new recommendations.

BPAS chief executive, Clare Murphy said: “We support the recommendation that women are given personalised information about the risk associated with different methods of delivery, but ultimately these are decisions for pregnant women to make.

“It is crucial that in our efforts to improve maternity safety, we ensure risks are properly contextualised when they are communicated to women, and that they are supported – not stigmatised – as they engage with maternity services.”

The updated draft proposals will be under public consultation until June 6, 2023.

Why is BMI such a weighty problem when having IVF treatment?