Around two-thirds of expectant mothers gain either too much or too little weight during pregnancy. This mismanagement of weight can lead to serious complications like preterm births and babies needing specialized care.
A recent study from Monash University reveals important insights. It analyzed data from 1.6 million women, highlighting the need for better global standards on healthy weight gain during pregnancy. The study is published in The BMJ.
Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy, known as gestational weight gain (GWG), is crucial for both mother and child. With 130 million births occurring each year worldwide, the increasing consumption of processed foods creates a challenge for many women.
Dr. Rebecca Goldstein, who led the study, emphasizes the urgency. “We need global guidelines for healthy GWG and support strategies to improve outcomes for mothers and babies everywhere,” she says.
Current guidelines are mostly based on data from Caucasian women in wealthy countries from the 1980s. This does not reflect the diverse populations of today or the modern challenges regarding nutrition and lifestyle.
To tackle this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) is working on new guidelines. Monash researchers collaborated with the WHO to analyze 40 studies from various regions, looking at pregnancy outcomes related to BMI and GWG from 2009 to 2024. Out of these, 36 studies were of high quality.
The results show that about 53% of women entered pregnancy with a healthy BMI, but only 32% gained weight within recommended ranges. Alarmingly, 45% gained too much weight, while 23% gained too little.
When women gained less than the suggested amount, they faced risks like preterm births and low birth weight. On the other hand, gaining too much weight linked to risks like high birth weight and complications during delivery, including higher chances of cesarean sections.
These findings underline a significant gap in current recommendations. Without a tailored approach that considers cultural and environmental factors, health outcomes can suffer.
Professor Helena Teede, a senior author of the study, urges for a more personalized and evidence-based strategy. “We need solutions that align with individual needs and reduce stigma to promote healthy outcomes for mothers and their children,” she explains.
In conclusion, as the conversation about maternal health evolves, it’s clear that we need better, more inclusive guidelines to support diverse populations. Only then can we hope to improve the health of mothers and babies around the globe.
For more details, check out the full study in The BMJ here.
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Pregnancy, Baby, Birth Weight, Food, Intensive Care, Medicine, Research
