Pregnant Women can Still Fight Obesity Issues
During pregnancy, an average sized woman normally gains 20 to 35 pounds. But the case is different for a woman who is already overweight or obese. Most obstetricians recommend that obese women should only gain about 13 pounds during pregnancy, in accordance to guidelines formed in 1990. However, a new study by Dr. Raul Artal, an obstetrician at St. Louise University, shows that pregnant women who are obese can prevent weight gain or even lose weight without any risk to their pregnancy or cause any harm to the fetal’s development.
In this study, Dr. Artal and his colleagues observed 96 pregnant women with obesity issues. These women were also affected with gestational diabetes, a kind of diabetes that comes out during pregnancy. Among all these women, 57 of them were asked to enroll in a diet program. The rest of them enrolled in both a diet and exercise program. Both of these groups got some help in making a healthy but low-calorie diet plan. In addition, the diet and exercise group got supervised moderate workout programs once a week. They were also encouraged to do some low impact exercises on their own once a day. The results of the study showed that women in the diet and exercise group gained less weight than those women in the other group.
Another outcome of the study revealed that those women who achieved weight loss or were able to maintain their weight were less probable to have a larger than normal newborn. Plus, they found out that there is no link between weight loss and increased risk of pregnancy complications.
This is definitely good news for pregnant women who are dealing with overweight or obesity issues. Even if they themselves are overweight or obese, their babies do not have to be overweight also. It is possible for these women to have newborns with normal-weight as long as they maintain their weight or even shed some pounds during pregnancy.
In order to achieve this, all it would take is just a little discipline and a lifestyle change. Obese pregnant women should start eating a healthy diet every meal and maybe even couple it with natural supplements. Cut out the fat and extra calories and just eat healthier. But to really attain weight loss, pregnant women dealing with obesity should also perform some exercises regularly. Being pregnant is not an excuse for living a sedentary lifestyle. All it takes is a bit of physical activity, and it can be as simple as having a brief walk after eating.
Moderate workouts like treadmill walking can be done once a week. It is still recommended though, that pregnant women should consult with their doctors first before undertaking an exercise routine. They should be certain that they do not have any conditions that prohibit physical activity. They should also consider talking to a nutritionist before making changes in their diets or taking any natural supplements. All these make it possible for obese or overweight women to deliver healthy and normal babies.
