Maternal body mass index is one of the effective factors in cesarean section. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal overweight and obesity on the rate of cesarean section. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 950 pregnant women admitted for delivery to three maternal hospitals in Arak, Iran. Data were collected via a questionnaire completed through interview and observation. The results were analyzed using SPSS software version 11.5. Results:

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... Cesarean odds ratio in overweight and obese women compared to normal weight women showed significant increases (p<0.001). After controlling for the confounding factors, these values were 3.29 and 3.55, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that maternal overweight and obesity are independent risk factors for cesarean delivery.