The relationship between maternal BMI and neonatal birth weight: A literature review

Introduction: Birth weight is a key indicator of neonatal health and fetal growth during pregnancy. Abnormal birth weight, whether low or high, can increase the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. One maternal factor closely related to birth weight is maternal nutritional status, often measured using the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is an anthropometric indicator that reflects the balance between a person's weight and height. Research shows that mothers with a low BMI have a higher risk of delivering low birth weight babies due to insufficient energy reserves and impaired intrauterine growth. Conversely, excessive BMI and maternal obesity are associated with an increased incidence of macrosomia and other obstetric complications. In Indonesia, low birth weight (LBW) remains a significant public health problem. Analysis of the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) showed that maternal characteristics, including nutritional status, are associated with the incidence of low birth weight. Based on this description, the relationship between maternal BMI and infant birth weight is a crucial issue in maternal and neonatal health.
Method: This study is a literature review, drawing from sources in Google Scholar, PUBMED, and Science Direct, focusing on research published between 2022 and 2026. The study included only original research articles in English with all the required components.
Result and Discussion: From the literature search, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 9 studies found a correlation between maternal BMI and neonatal birth weight and 1 study found no significant association between maternal BMI and neonatal birth weight.
Conclusion: According to reviews, 9 out of 10 researchers agree that there is a relationship between the mother's BMI and the baby's birth weight