 Prepregnancy obesity, defined as a body mass index BMI of 30kgm2 or more, shows a strong association with pregnancy and birth complications for both the mother and her child. Most consequently reported maternal risks include an increased risk for gestational diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, increased incidence of induction of labour, operative delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, anaesthetic risks as well as risk for infections and thromboembolic complications. Fetal risks include miscarriage, neural-tube defects, heart defects, macrosomia and stillbirth. Initiation and continuation of breastfeeding is more complicated in obese women than in normal weight women. Also in later life chronic diseases can put the mother and her babys health at risk. The Institute Of Medicine IOM guidelines suggest a gestational weight gain GWG to be limited to 5 - 9 kg 11-19,8 lb in obese women in order to minimize the synergetic negative health consequences of excessive weight gain for both the obese mother and her child. Preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy and postpartum weight retention is also important in the prevention of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age. Obese women in general have a poor diet quality and are more exposed to psychosocial factors like anxiety and feelings of depression than normal weight women. 