Investigating depressive symptoms in obese pregnancy: identifying risk factors, influences on gestational weight gain and birthweight, and exploring underlying mechanisms University of Edinburgh Past award Student: Ross Henderson : University of Edinburgh Year Award Started: 2012 Depression in mothers during pregnancy is common and is potentially devastating, affecting the wellbeing of both mother and baby. Obese women are at high risk of depression and, alarmingly, one in five Scottish pregnant women is obese. We plan to assess rates of depressive symptoms in severely obese and normal-weight pregnant women. We will identify any additional risk factors for depression, determine any adverse consequences for mother and baby, and explore one potential underlying mechanism, namely altered maternal stress hormone levels. Ultimately we hope to be able to identify those women most at need of intervention to prevent this major health problem. Research area: Other conditions Supervisors: Dr Rebecca Reynolds Centre for Cardiovascular Science Back to all awards