Dieting, not eating for two ‘benefits mother and baby’

THE popular belief that mothers-to-be can “eat for two” has been dispelled by research that shows dieting when pregnant can be good for you.

Experts have found weight “management” is not only safe but can reduce complications during pregnancy and be advantageous to babies.

But baby specialists have warned expectant mothers against dramatically cutting calories until more research is carried out into pregnancy weight, unless they are advised to by their doctor.

A study by researchers at the University of London has shown mums who stick to a healthy, calorie-controlled diet can reduce their risk of miscarriage, diabetes, premature birth and high blood pressure. Conversely, experts found mothers-to-be who put on too much weight were more likely to suffer from health issues.

The research also suggests maternal obesity has long-term consequences for the baby, including the development of childhood obesity and increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes in later life.

Part of the reason behind this is the poor diet of women while pregnant, which some experts believe makes the baby more likely to crave a similar diet themselves.

In the study of more than 7,000 women, eating a healthy and varied diet resulted in the largest average reduction in weight gain (almost 4kg) compared with just 0.7kg for those who only increased their exercise and 1kg for a combination of the two.

The team’s report, published on bmj.com, said: “Dietary intervention is effective, safe and potentially cost-effective and dominates physical activity-based intervention.”

A previous report by CEMACH (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths) revealed obese pregnant women were five times more likely to suffer maternal death than a woman of normal weight.

Professor Jane Norman, director at the Tommy’s-funded Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health at Edinburgh University, welcomed the findings but said there was not sufficient evidence to support any new guidelines for mothers.

She said: “This supports what we have believed but there is not enough here to change policy or advocate new diet or exercise regimes for pregnant women.”