Caryn,

Oh, yea! I didn't mean that...

I just meant that people with very high BMI's most-likely are caused by diet. I know they've linked other underlying disorders with diet as well (I have no idea how valid the claims are) like PCOS.

I come from a very nutritionally concerned family- so I think everything relates to what we put in our body to some degree...however, I don't think Preeclampsia is directly related to diet at all.

So, Dr. Brewer sounds like he may be way off, but I still think there is something to diet and overall health. (on a weird side-note if you google my dad's name Dr. Brewer's website comes up because he did a lot of research for him at Berkeley)

Preeclampsia isn't really related to diet or exercise, so far as we can tell -- but it is related to obesity.

This likely means one of two things: obesity unmasks a tendency to be carrying the genes for preeclampsia (remember, an awful lot of obese women do *not* get preeclampsia), or obesity triggers underlying conditions that raise risk of preeclampsia, like insulin resistance.

Even skinny women can be insulin-resistant; to a great extent the tendency to gain weight in the abdomen rather than the hips (the "apple-shaped" body instead of the "pear-shaped" body) is a phenotype programmed in utero -- so while you were developing in utero. Women can be a normal weight, or even underweight, with that tendency to gain weight in the waist and an inclination towards insulin resistance.

I'm almost 5'4" (ughh so close!) and I was 93lbs when I got pregnant.

I'm 102 now with a BMI just under 18 (still considered underweight even though this is how my body is)

I think overweight women are more susceptible to other health issues that put you at a higher risk for PE and HELLP (i.e. vit D deficiency, hypertension, PCOS (although I still think underweight women get that, too), high cholesterol...you name it)

I also think some people with just extremely fast metabolisms can go under the radar with certain diet related health issues...especially when they aren't eating correctly and not exercising.

Here is the 'card deck post': http://www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39318

It certainly happens to women across the board in all shapes and sizes but obesity is a risk factor for preeclampsia and HELLP meaning it just increases the odds it will happen. Caryn has a post somewhere comparing it to holding a deck of cards with certain risk factors (like chronic HPT and obesity) upping the risk you'll pull the pre-e card.

So, looking at one or two or 20 examples of skinny women that didn't get it doesnt mean much. One has to look at larger studies covering hundreds to ascertain exactly what risk weight plays.

I had PE, Eclampsia and HELLP with my 1st, PE with my 2nd and PE and HELLP with my 3rd. I am in the normal BMI range and have been fit for my entire life.

Typically they say overweight/obese is a risk factor because women who are overweight/obese are more likely to have blood pressure problems than their normal-weight counterparts. I actually have found a study in the literature that examines the overweight/obese who were normotensive prior to pregnancy vs the overweight/obese with chronic hypertension.

I was 5'2" and only around 120 lbs when I got pregnant; I'm also really not carrying much fat as I've done a lot of weight training. I gained <14 lb during pregnancy (apart from the massive swelling at the end). It seems to happen to slim women too. I've also read that its more common in short women, and there do seem to be a lot of those around here.

I've seen one study though that did suggest that for those who had PE in a first pregnancy, recurrence was a bit lower with a low BMI though, so perhaps your specialist had this in mind. I kind of think its largely chance though.

Good luck.

It all depends on the person. I was 125 lbs pre pregnancy and a runner. I am 5'1. I got very sick with hellp and PE one week in the hospital and weeks of recovery. We are TTC now.

It does affect everyone at anytime. I did everything right and know people who smoked during their preg. and come to find out that nicotine prevents preeclampsia even though it is harmful (never would do it or condone it). Thankfully my daughter was full term even though IUGR. As I contemplate another I am still eating super healthy in preperation. Couldn't hurt even if I decide not to.