Women should not ‘eat for two’ during pregnancy, experts have warned after a major study revealed nearly half of pregnant women put on too much weight.
A major analysis of more than 1.3million pregnancies around the world found that 47 per cent of women gained excessive weight over the nine months of their pregnancy, risking the health of their child.
British experts said the research was highly relevant for the UK, where one in five mothers are obese to start off with.
They warned that too many women believe the myth that they need to ‘eat for two’ – piling on the pounds and raising the chance of complications during childbirth.
A major analysis of more than 1.3million pregnancies around the world found that 47 per cent of women gained excessive weight over the nine months of their pregnancy
The Institute of Medicine in the US recommends mothers of a healthy weight put on no more than 2st 7lb during pregnancy, and no less than 1st 11lb.
Mothers who are overweight to begin with, with a body mass index of 25 to 30, should put on no more than 1st 10lbs, and no less than 1st 1lb.
And women who are obese, with a BMI of more than 30, should gain no more than 1st 6lb, and no less than 11lb.
What did the study find?
The researchers, from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, found only a quarter of women around the world actually hit this target.
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While nearly half put on too much weight, a quarter put on too little weight.
The research, published in the JAMA medical journal, found women who gained too much weight were 85 per cent more likely to have an overly-large baby, and 30 per cent more like to require a Caesarean section to deliver their infant.
The 23 per cent of women of women who put on too little weight, meanwhile, increased the risk of premature birth by 70 per cent.
WHAT IS HEALTHY WEIGHT GAIN?
The Institute of Medicine recommends mothers of a healthy weight put on no more than 2st 7lb during pregnancy, and no less than 1st 11lb.
Mothers who are overweight to begin with, with a body mass index of 25 to 30, should put on no more than 1st 10lbs, and no less than 1st 1lb.
And women who are obese, with a BMI of more than 30, should gain no more than 1st 6lb, and no less than 11lb.
Experts pointed out that women in the UK are usually only weighed at the beginning of their pregnancy – which means they have no idea whether they are putting on too much weight.
‘The findings have relevance in the UK’
Dr Daghni Rajasingam, spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: ‘The results of this large scale study highlight the potential complications for mother and baby if a woman gains more or less weight in pregnancy than is recommended by the US Institute of Medicine, including having large or small babies, preterm birth and caesarean delivery.
‘These findings have relevance in the UK as one in five pregnant women are obese and illustrate the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a well-balanced diet and exercise before, during and after their pregnancy to reduce associated complications.
‘It is a myth that women need to ‘eat for two’ during their pregnancy – energy needs do not change until the last three months of pregnancy, when women need an extra 200 calories a day.
‘Having a normal bodyweight will help to increase the chances of conceiving naturally and reduces the risk of pregnancy and birth complications for the mother and baby.’
‘This is very useful research’
Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, added: ‘This is very useful research that underlines even more the importance for women, and their babies, of being a healthy weight before and during pregnancy.
‘This relates to US recommended levels of weight gain, there are none in the UK and it would help if we had them to assist women.
‘This study shows how important it is for women to avoid gaining excessive weight during pregnancy and, if overweight at the end of pregnancy, to try to lose that weight before they have another baby.
She added: ‘NICE guidance is to weigh women at the start of pregnancy and only re-weigh if there are concerns.
‘This is not helpful as without continuity of carer how can the midwife know if it appears that the woman has gained excess or too little weight?’
HEALTHY WEIGHT GAIN IN THE YEARS BEFORE PREGNANCY INCREASES DIABETES RISK
Women have long been advised to control their weight gain in the years before pregnancy if they wish to avoid diabetes.
However, a new study warns that even a normal, healthy increase in weight raises their risk.
Women deemed healthy or underweight who gained more than 2.5 per cent of their body weight each year were at triple the risk.
But scientists discovered that even women who put on an excess 1.5 per cent a year were twice as likely to suffer from gestational diabetes than those who gained no weight at all.
The findings remained true even if they stayed within the healthy weight category, Australian experts claim.
For example, a 9st 6lbs woman of 5ft 5in in a healthy BMI range is at triple the risk if she gains just 3lbs each year.
And someone of the same weight and height would be twice as likely to develop the condition if they put on 1.9lbs yearly.
Lead researcher Akilew Adane, of the University of Queensland, said that putting on weight in early adulthood increases insulin resistance.