Pregnancy weight gain - even the amount recommended in guidelines established by the U.S. Institute of Medicine - may lead to an overweight child, according to new research reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy, developed in 1990, call for those having a low BMI (under 19.8) to gain 28-40 pounds, those with a normal BMI (19.8-26) to gain 25-35 pounds, and those with a high BMI (26-29) to gain 15-25 pounds. These recommendations aim for a good birth outcome: having a baby neither too big, which can lead to a difficult delivery or Caesarean section, nor too small, which can pose a number of neonatal hazards.
But according to study authors, who examined 1,044 mothers and their 3-year-old children, the guidelines may need revision. While it's not surprising that those who gain more than the recommended amount of weight end up with an overweight toddler, those who follow the current guidelines are still four times more likely than women who gain less than current recommended weight gain during pregnancy to have an overweight child.
Experts suggest that until more research is done and guidelines are revised, women should aim for the low end of recommended weight gain for BMI during pregnancy.
Back to Weight Loss Articles >>