Pregnant women risk gaining too much weight.

Many a mom-to-be expects to eat enough for two, thanks to the enduring lore of voracious appetites and powerful cravings of pregnant women. This pervasive thinking often leads to overindulging and excessive weight gain. Yet studies over the last few years show that gaining too much in pregnancy is the greatest contribution to the rising rate of childhood obesity as well as to a growing list of pregnancy complications. The question is: What is too much? The current recommendations for weight gain, developed in 1990 and based on even earlier studies, appear to be set too high. A 2007 study demonstrated that children born to women that met or exceeded these guidelines were about four times more likely to be overweight or obese by their third birthday and also tended to have higher blood pressure than those whose mothers gained less weight. In fact, maternal weight gain during pregnancy had a greater effect on whether a toddler was obese than other known risk factors such as how much television the child watched, how much fast food or sweetened drinks he consumed, and even his genes. Eating excessive calories during the first trimester, when the developing fetus really doesn’t need much energy, can lead to early complications. Most women should try to have minimal weight gain (no more than four pounds) during their first trimester. Set a target weight that is about 10 pounds lower than recommended and monitor your weight (without obsessing over it) throughout your pregnancy. If you’re gaining too much, speak to your doctor or a nutritionist about how to gain less without dieting. You and your child will both benefit from your efforts.