Pilot research within the North East has demonstrated that maternal obesity is increasing and presenting increased risks during pregnancy and delivery (Heslehurst in press). To explore this important field further the North East Maternal Obesity Research Group was established.

North East Maternal Obesity Research Group

The North East Maternal Obesity Research Group is a multi-centre research collaboration between the North East Public Health Observatory (NEPHO), the University of Teesside, the Regional Maternity Survey Office (RMSO) and James Cook University Hospital department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. The group is a stakeholder in the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH), and both the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Midwives are aware of this research group and have expressed an interest in potential future collaboration.

The members of the research group work on a variety of maternal obesity research projects, with the aim of generating and collating evidence on which to base guidelines, policy, and develop public health interventions. The membership of the group is:

• Prof. John Wilkinson, Director NEPHO and Prof in Public Health
• Dr Louisa Ells, Obesity Lead for NEPHO
• Ms Nicola Heslehurst, Lecturer in Research and Maternal Obesity Lead for University of Teesside
• Prof Carolyn Summerbell, Prof in Human Nutrition, Principle of John Snow College Durham University
• Dr Judith Rankin, Academic Director RMSO, Reader at Newcastle University
• Dr Helen Simpson, Consultant Obstetrician, South Tees NHS Trust
• Mrs Judith Porch, Midwife and Assistant Dean, University of Teesside
• Mrs Kath Mannion, Midwifery Officer, Local Supervisory Authority
• Mrs Anne Holt, Consultant Midwife, South Tees NHS Trust
• Victoria Head, Infant feeding coordinator, Public Health North East
• Roselle Oberholzer, Children and Obesity Manager, Public Health North East

Research has shown that maternity services in the North East vary in practice relating to maternal obesity. Very few NHS Trusts within the region have services specifically directed towards maternal obesity, with a general perception from maternity health care professionals, that maternal obesity is a public health issue, with little that can be done by the time the women arrive at the maternity unit as they have already conceived (Heslehurst 2007 a,b). The majority of research to date addresses to the clinical obstetric outcomes related to maternal obesity with very little focus on the prevention of obesity in pregnancy, evidence on which to base services for women and families planning to have children, evaluation of services, and the link with obesity in the offspring. The objectives of this research group are to systematically collate the existing evidence base for these aspects of obesity in pregnancy, to establish the extent of services directed towards maternal obesity in the North East Region (both public health and maternity services), to identify the service users perspective of the existing services and what they feel would be beneficial to help them in the future. The generation of this information will provide an evidence base upon which regional policy and guidance can be based, taking into account the perspectives of the regional public health sector, maternity services, and service users.

• Heslehurst, N., Ells, L.J., Simpson, H., Batterham, A., Wilkinson, J., Summerbell, C.D. (2007a) Trends in maternal obesity incidence rates, demographic predictors, and health inequalities in 36 821 women over a 15-year period. BJOG; 114:187-194
  http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/bjo/114/2/
• Heslehurst, N., Lang, R., Rankin, J., Wilkinson, J., Summerbell, C. (2007b) Obesity in pregnancy: a study of the impact of maternal obesity on NHS maternity services. BJOG;114:334–342
  http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/bjo/114/3/
• Heslehurst, N., Simpson, H., Ells, L.J., Rankin, J., Wilkinson, J., Lang, R., Brown, T.J., Summerbell, C.D. (2008) The Impact of Maternal BMI Status on Pregnancy Outcomes with Immediate Short-Term Obstetric Resource Implications: A Meta-analysis. [Epub ahead of print]
• Occassional Paper: Maternal Obesity and Pregnancy Outcome: A Scoping Study
  http://www.northeastpho.org.uk/publications.php5?rid=562