Obese mothers may be behind increase in multiple births

OBESITY could be behind a rise in multiple births, it has been claimed. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the rate of multiple births – mostly of twins – edged upwards to 16.1 per 1,000 women giving birth in 2015.

In the past, women aged 45 and over drove the rise in multiple births, because of higher levels of IVF among this age group.

But the ONS said that the recent rise was driven by an increase among women aged 25 to 29 while other age groups saw a fall or remained constant.

Overall 2,605 women in their late 20s had twins, triplets or other multiple births last year, up from 2,505 a year earlier.

The Twins and Multiple Births Association (Tamba) said research suggests that obesity leads to more multiple births – which could be affecting the 25 to 29-year-old age group.

Keith Reed, the chief executive, said: “We can speculate that the increase in multiple pregnancies is likely due to emerging trends in fertility practice, but also an increasing number of mums with higher BMIs. Both are known to increase the risk of having a multiple pregnancy. We will await more data around this.”

Professor Lesley Regan, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “The suggestion that the increase might be linked to obesity warrants further investigation through research.

“Around one in five pregnant women are obese and we already know that this increases their risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death.”