Optimizing Health: Weight, Exercise, and Nutrition in Pregnancy and Beyond.

Pregnancy complications provide insight into women's future health risks and have long term implications for maternal and child health. Obesity has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and is a risk factor for chronic disease. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy often translates into postpartum weight retention, increasing women's risk for obesity. Pregnancy and the postpartum period provides a unique opportunity to discuss health beyond pregnancy, emphasize interconception care, and implement appropriate prevention strategies. We aim to review the impact of obesity, gestational weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and role of nutrition and exercise on pregnancy and lifelong health.