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| [Actual news headline and picture from 2009 media release because, you know, all obese pregnant women are constantly stuffing their faces with chocolate] |
Here is yet another study that confirms the potential risks of extreme restrictions of prenatal weight gain in women of size.
In this study done by the prestigious MFMU Network, gestational weight loss or a very low weight gain (less than the 11-20 lbs. recommended by the Institute of Medicine) in "obese" women was associated with about twice the rate of Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) babies.
This is a concern because SGA babies are at higher risk for metabolic disease as they grow older, including insulin resistance, diabetes, abdominal fatness, the metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.
In the rush to "cure" obesity, are care providers increasing the next generation's risk for the very conditions they are trying to prevent?
Alarmingly, many clinicians continue to advise high-BMI women to gain little or no weight in pregnancy (even with twins), and some are still telling women of size to lose weight during pregnancy.
This study joins several others that should indicate that extreme prenatal weight gain restriction is not advisable.
Reference
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Feb 11. pii: S0002-9378(14)00121-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.02.004. [Epub ahead of print] Inadequate weight gain in overweight and obese pregnant women: what is the effect on fetal growth? Catalano PM1, Mele L2, Landon MB3, Ramin SM4, Reddy UM5, Casey B6, Wapner RJ7, Varner MW8, Rouse DJ9, Thorp JM Jr10, Saade G11, Sorokin Y12, Peaceman AM13, Tolosa JE14; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. PMID: 24530820
OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate inadequate gestational weight gain and fetal growth among overweight and obese women. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an analysis of prospective singleton term pregnancies in which 1053 overweight and obese women gained >5 kg (14.4 ± 6.2 kg) or 188 who either lost or gained ≤5 kg (1.1 ± 4.4 kg). Birthweight, fat mass, and lean mass were assessed using anthropometry. Small for gestational age (SGA) was defined as ≤10th percentile of a standard US population. Univariable and multivariable analysis evaluated the association between weight change and neonatal morphometry. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, race, smoking, parity, or gestational age between groups. Weight loss or gain ≤5 kg was associated with SGA, 18/188 (9.6%) vs 51/1053 (4.9%); (adjusted odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.7; P = .003). Neonates of women who lost or gained ≤5 kg had lower birthweight (3258 ± 443 vs 3467 ± 492 g, P < .0001), fat mass (403 ± 175 vs 471 ± 193 g, P < .0001), and lean mass (2855 ± 321 vs 2995 ± 347 g, P < .0001), and smaller length, percent fat mass, and head circumference. Adjusting for diabetic status, prepregnancy body mass index, smoking, parity, study site, gestational age, and sex, neonates of women who gained ≤5 kg had significantly lower birthweight, lean body mass, fat mass, percent fat mass, head circumference, and length. There were no significant differences in neonatal outcomes between those who lost weight and those who gained ≤5 kg. CONCLUSION: In overweight and obese women weight loss or gain ≤5 kg is associated with increased risk of SGA and decreased neonatal fat mass, lean mass, and head circumference.
4 comments:
Hi, I just have a question. I was overweight going into both of my pregnancies but not obese. I only gained 13 lbs my first pregnancy and only 7 my second. Both babies were born medication-free in free-standing birth centers. My first baby was 7 lbs 3 oz and number 2 was 8 lbs. 4.5 oz. So basically I weighed less after delivering each baby than I weighed when I got pregnant. Both babies are extremely healthy and breastfed well. Why would this happen? I did not restrict my calories in any way.
You are not alone in gaining small amounts in your pregnancy. I gained only about 5 lbs in each of my four pregnancies yet had good-sized babies.
I have covered this topic before so I didn't mention it in this latest post (but probably should have) that many women of size gain fairly low amounts and still have healthy pregnancies and babies. The problem is when care providers intentionally restrict weight gain in women who would have naturally gained a little more. No or almost no weight gain should NOT be a goal, but neither is it necessarily alarming if the woman is eating well.
This study shows that there is an increased risk for poor outcomes like SGA in those women of size who gained less than 11 lbs. However, many women who gained less than 11 lbs. were okay.
Why this happens is anyone's guess. My theory from my own experience is that my metabolism sped up in pregnancy; I could FEEL it being more efficient. So to me, that explained why I gained little despite not restricting calories and eating well.
I think the take-home lesson is GREAT NUTRITION and then TRUST YOUR BODY TO GAIN WHAT IT NEEDS. I think if a woman gains very little weight, then there needs to be some concern about fetal growth, but if baby seems to be growing well, then I don't think a low gain is a big concern. My worry is when care providers manipulate nutrition in order to restrict gain....I think that approach is rife with potential problems.
Like this should be a surprise to doctors. It was observed in the 1940s.
If you read medieval works about children, the writers (men) note that women gain lots of weight, or don't even bother mentioning it because it really was a case of "everyone knows so why bother". It is stated non-judgementally, and is completely a non-issue for them.
Complete opposite of today.
During my twin pregnancy (25 years ago) I was told not to gain weight for the 1st 6 months. As it happened, between morning sickness & significantly improved nutrition, I didn't gain for 5 months. I gained 40 lbs total in the last 4 months, about half of that fluid in the last month (pre-ecampsia). I was at or below pre-pregnancy weight within 2 weeks of delivering. Babies were 5 lb 11oz & 6lb 7oz.
Similar pattern next pregnancy, except she was a single 9lb 4oz baby.
Mostly I ignored the scale & focused on eating more fruits & veggies, more calcium, less sodium, plenty of water. The doc could tell me not to gain weight, but really it was up to the babies & my body.
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