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Asked by Hima, New Jersey
Hi. I am 21 weeks pregnant, and from start of the pregnancy to date, I have put on 15 pounds. I was high on weight before pregnancy, too, and worried what measures should I take to control my weight gain. Also, what are the risks associated with weight gain?
Thanks.
Diet and Fitness Expert
Dr. Melina Jampolis
Physician Nutrition Specialist
Hi, Hima. This is a very good question, and the guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy were recently updated by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While adequate weight gain during pregnancy is important for proper development of your baby, we now know that gaining too much weight is not good, as it can cause problems such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, increased risk of Caesarean section and infection, and more difficulty during labor.
In addition, many women do not lose all their baby weight, which increases the risk of obesity and obesity-related complications such as heart disease and diabetes. There is also research suggesting that children born to women who gain too much weight during pregnancy are much more likely to be obese.
If you started your pregnancy overweight (body mass index between 25 and 29; go here to calculate your BMI), you should gain about 15 to 25 pounds during your pregnancy. If you started the pregnancy obese (BMI of 30 or greater), the latest recommendations suggest that you need to gain only about 15 pounds during your pregnancy.
Although you should not be dieting or trying to lose weight during your pregnancy, pregnancy is not a reason to eat hundreds and hundreds of extra calories of junk food per day. Depending on how active you are, you may actually need only 100 to 300 extra calories per day.
Make sure that you eat lots of nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, low-fat dairy and brightly colored fruits and vegetables, both for your health and your baby's. The latest guidelines also suggest getting regular exercise, so if you are not already exercising, I would recommend easing into a walking routine to help prevent you from gaining too much weight.
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