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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Current Obesity Reports

Weight Stigma in Pregnancy: A Narrative Review of Consequences, Drivers, and Potential Solutions

  • Briony Hill1
  • Haimanot Hailu1
  • Bec Jenkinson2
  • Ahlia Griffiths1
  • Emma Davidsen3
  • Jodie Dodd4,5
  • Megan Mitchell5
  • Leonie Callaway2,6
  • Lauren Kearney6,7
  • Helen Skouteris1,8
8 affiliations
  1. 1Health and Social Care Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  2. 2Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  3. 3Prevention, Health Promotion & Community Care, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
  4. 4Women’s and Babies Division, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
  5. 5Robinson Research Institute, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia
  6. 6Department of Women’s and Newborn Services, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Herston, Australia
  7. 7School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  8. 8Warwick Business School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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Abstract

Purpose of Review: This narrative review summarises current knowledge of weight stigma in pregnancy including consequences, drivers, and potential solutions.

Recent Findings: Weight stigma in pregnancy has negative physical, psychosocial, and behavioural sequelae for mothers and their infants. It is an equity issue that compounds disadvantage experienced by marginalised communities. A focus on gestational weight gain in maternity care, particularly for women with a high body mass index has created an environment that perpetuates implicit and explicit weight stigma, negatively impacting women’s care. The community, family members, and media are also key weight stigma perpetrators. This stigma pervades societal norms, influencing healthcare environments, practice, and policy.

Summary: Tackling weight stigma in maternity care requires a shift from weight-centric, stigmatising approaches to more weight-inclusive, woman-centred, and holistic health-focused care. This should be supported by approaches addressing societal and cultural norms and policy change, ultimately leading to improvements in the health and wellbeing of women during pregnancy and beyond.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{hill2026weight,
  title = {{Weight Stigma in Pregnancy: A Narrative Review of Consequences, Drivers, and Potential Solutions}},
  author = {Briony Hill and Haimanot Hailu and Bec Jenkinson and Ahlia Griffiths and Emma Davidsen and Jodie Dodd and Megan Mitchell and Leonie Callaway and Lauren Kearney and Helen Skouteris},
  journal = {Current Obesity Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1007/s13679-026-00772-x},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-026-00772-x},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Weight Stigma in Pregnancy: A Narrative Review of Consequences, Drivers, and Potential Solutions
AU  - Briony Hill
AU  - Haimanot Hailu
AU  - Bec Jenkinson
AU  - Ahlia Griffiths
AU  - Emma Davidsen
AU  - Jodie Dodd
AU  - Megan Mitchell
AU  - Leonie Callaway
AU  - Lauren Kearney
AU  - Helen Skouteris
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - Current Obesity Reports
DO  - 10.1007/s13679-026-00772-x
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-026-00772-x
AB  - Purpose of Review: This narrative review summarises current knowledge of weight stigma in pregnancy including consequences, drivers, and potential solutions.  Recent Findings: Weight stigma in pregnancy has negative physical, psychosocial, and behavioural sequelae for mothers and their infants. It is an equity issue that compounds disadvantage experienced by marginalised communities. A focus on gestational weight gain in maternity care, particularly for women with a high body mass index has created an environment that perpetuates implicit and explicit weight stigma, negatively impacting women’s care. The community, family members, and media are also key weight stigma perpetrators. This stigma pervades societal norms, influencing healthcare environments, practice, and policy.  Summary: Tackling weight stigma in maternity care requires a shift from weight-centric, stigmatising approaches to more weight-inclusive, woman-centred, and holistic health-focused care. This should be supported by approaches addressing societal and cultural norms and policy change, ultimately leading to improvements in the health and wellbeing of women during pregnancy and beyond.
SN  - 2162-4968
ER  -