EFN

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has given new guidelines on how much weight to gain during pregnancy. This is the first time in almost 20 years the guidelines have been changed.

Obesity rates in the United States have significantly risen over the past two decades. Putting on too much weight in pregnancy can result in health risks such as high blood pressure or diabetes, as well as increase the chances you will require a C-section. And babies born to obese mothers have a higher risk of premature birth or of later becoming obese themselves.

The suggested weight gain ranges in pregnancy are now:

- 28-40 pounds for underweight women
- 25-35 pounds for normal-weight women
- 15-25 pounds for overweight women
- 11-20 pounds for obese women

These guidelines are supported by a number of factors involving the health of the mother and embryo. Primarly the Institute’s recommendations is based on the body mass index (BMI) of the pregnant mother, a measurement based on acceptable weight to height ratios. Women with a BMI of 30 or higher are thought to be obese, while a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. Normal weight women have BMIs between 18.5 and 24.9 and a BMI below 18.5 falls in the underweight range.

The Institute of Medicine report that, almost two-thirds of American women of childbearing age (18 to 49 years) are obese, and about one- third are obese.