New research has shown that women who give birth have higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared to their nulliparous counterparts (women who have never given birth). In addition, those who have gestational diabetes are at higher risk.
Researchers diagnosed metabolic syndrome on those who had three or more of five factors present: triglycerides 150 mg/dL or higher, waist girth > 88 cm, HDL-cholesterol < 50 mg/dL, systolic blood pressure at least 130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure at least 85 mm Hg and/or treatment with antihypertensive medication, and fasting glucose at least 100 mg/dL and/or treatment with diabetes medications.
A single healthy pregnancy without gestational diabetes increased metabolic syndrome risk about 30%, while having 2 or more pregnancies raised risk by about 60%. Women who had gestational diabetes had double the risk of metabolic syndrome than normal women. The connection between pregnancy and diabetes is still foggy, but researchers clue in to the weight gain from a sedentary lifestyle from dealing with pregnancy.
