Define Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Weight for height as a marker of nutritional status has the advantage that it is independent of other factors that affect foetal outcome such as maternal age and parity. BMI is useful in predicting LBW or small or large for gestational babies. Refer to Table to understand the relationship between increasing body mass index and reducing incidence of low birth weight babies.

It is well known now that the health status both before and after conception hold great significance for both the mother and the child.