Pregnancy Weight and Obesity

Posted by Brenda Lane Jul 31, 2008

There is much in the literature today about how many pounds women should gain to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Research now shows that mothers who gain too much may be increasing their child's risk of obesity.

A retroactive study on over 10,000 mothers who gave birth betwen 1959 and 1965 and their children (who were followed until the age of 7) participated in the study. Interestingly this study was conducted to examine the risk factors for cerebral palsy but since the question of weight gain during pregnancy was included, this research was also found.

Children whose mothers gained more than the recommended amount of weight were 48% more likely to be over their ideal weight at the age of 7.

For more information on healthy eating during pregnancy, be sure to look over the article in the nutrition series.

Brenda