Written By: Naz Haider | Updated : October 24, 2015 11:06 AM IST
Gaining excessive weight during pregnancy can you out you at an increased risk of obesity, even after seven years, says a recent study. The study conducted by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, studied the long term effects of gestational weight gain and its link with long-term weight retention and body fat in a population of multi-ethnic urban participants. Here's all that you need to know about weight gain during pregnancy and its effects.
The study revealed that the weight gain during pregnancy can have long-term consequences even on women who were the ideal weight or were a little overweight before conceiving. The population studied comprised of 302 African-American or Dominican mothers, and were studied for a period between 1998 to 2013. Did you know these 7 essential foods every pregnant woman should eat.
Among the people under study, 64 per cent gained weight in excess during pregnancy, more than the recommended weight gain by the Institute of Medicine Guidelines (IOM). Out of these, 38 per cent gained excess weight and were obese seven years later. Here are dos and don'ts of eating during pregnancy.
As per the study, mother who were not obese prior to their pregnancy, but gained a lot of weight during pregnancy were at 400 per cent increased obesity risk seven years later, quoted Elizabeth Widen, post-doctoral fellow at the New York Obesity Research Centre in the department of medicine, department of epidemiology, and Institute of Human Nutrition.
The findings were published online in the journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
