The assessment of maternal adiposity: A scoping review of the literature

There is a concerning rise in the incidence of overweight and obesity worldwide. High pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) have become important challenges in antenatal care increasing both maternal and foetal risk of adverse outcomes. This study used a scoping review methodology and was conducted to examine what is known about the different anthropometric techniques available to measure maternal body composition, implications for their use within the pregnant population and possible research gaps. Searches were conducted through Google Scholar and PubMed and included both qualitative and quantitative studies published between the years 2007 to 2017