Researchers from the University of Queensland in Herston, Australia, studied over 2,000 women before and after giving birth to determine if there was a link between pregnancy weight and weight after wards. They found that women who gained large amounts of weight went on to gain an additional 44 pounds of weight during the next twenty-one years of their lives. However, women who gained a moderate amount of pregnancy weight only gained an average of 20 pounds over the next twenty-one years.
The women who gained excessive amounts of weight were twice as likely to become overweight later on, and four times as likely to become obese. This study shows that there is a definite link between pregnancy weight gain and body mass.
WebMD reports that healthy pregnancy weight gain should remain between 25 and 35 pounds. However, for women who are already over weight it is controversial to ask them to limit their food intake as this can harm the fetus. Eating a healthy, well balanced diet is more important that counting calories and weight gain during pregnancy. – Summer, staff writer
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