Recent studies indicate that maternal weight gain during pregnancy and even after childbirth affects the baby’s health by increasing the risks of childhood obesity. “It is already known that women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to overweight babies. But it was also observed that women who gain a lot of weight after childbirth also have a high probability of having babies with excess weight,” reports the study author Lenie Van Rossen from the Medical University of the Netherlands.

Excess weight during pregnancy is also linked to problems such as premature birth, increased risk of cesarean section, and the birth of babies larger than what is considered normal and healthy, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weight gain during pregnancy varies from woman to woman, but it is estimated that women at an appropriate weight should gain an average of 11 to 15 kg by the end of pregnancy, according to Institute of Medicine guidelines.

A group of 3,367 children born from 1996 onwards in the Netherlands was observed, and it was found that those born to overweight mothers stood a high chance of becoming obese children. At 14 years old, children of mothers who were overweight during pregnancy were already struggling with excess weight. The mothers themselves reported weight gain during the required period through questionnaires. They concluded that there are three plausible explanations for excessive weight gain during pregnancy and in childhood: lifestyle, uterine programming, and the genetic factor. As childhood obesity has increased dramatically in the past decade, the researchers believe that the genetic factor is the least decisive explanation.

If the mother eats incorrectly and consumes a large amount of sugar during pregnancy, these substances will be passed on to the baby through the placenta. After birth, the baby will be accustomed to this type of substance in their metabolism. It is still not possible to say whether it is excessive postnatal weight gain, or weight gain during pregnancy, that poses the greater risk to the baby suffering from excess weight.

But weight control is essential for all women before, during, and after pregnancy, according to researcher Jihong Liu from the Medical University of South Carolina. These precautions have the potential to break the cycle and prevent diseases related to obesity from developing in mothers and children. A woman should not eat for two, much less follow restrictive diets. Eating appropriately, healthily, and engaging in physical activities is the best option and should be followed up until the day of birth and afterwards as well. See also: Débora Secco: Full-Time Mother with Much Pride

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