Arushi Bidhuri
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Obese pregnant women can limit weight gain and alleviate health risks for their baby by making simple lifestyle changes.
Obese pregnant women may be at a higher risk of developing health problems. It increases the risk of almost all pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational hypertension, and infertility. Their babies also have a higher risk of premature birth and some birth defects. Doctors didn't promote weight loss for pregnant women in the past. But new research suggests that improved diet and more physical activity may help reduce the health risks for them and their infants.
The researchers examined the impact of high glucose on mothers with GDM and changes to infants DNA. According to the study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, high levels of glucose in mothers with GDM may trigger epigenetic changes in the developing fetus. Epigenetic changes refer to modifications that may change the physical structure of the DNA. Chemical changes to the genetic blueprint of the fetus can adversely affect your child and lead to health complications.
Karen Lillycrop along with researchers from the University of Southampton, UK, found that significant improvements in the diet and physical activity can have a positive impact on the development of the baby. The study analyzed data from 550 pregnant women with obesity and their children.
Pregnant women who changed their diet to lower glycemic index foods that are broken down less quickly in the body, a reduced-fat intake and increasing physical activity were metabolically healthier than women who made no changes in their lifestyle during pregnancy.
As already discussed, a pregnant woman who is obese is at a greater risk of many health problems, including:
While these problems can affect a pregnant woman, whether obese or not, it can increase the risk of developing these problem increases. Being obese may elevate the risk of the following health problems for the baby: