Around two-thirds (68%) of pregnancies have weight gain that is more or less than recommended and that is associated with complications such as preterm birth, large birth weight, and admission to intensive care, finds a review of data from 1.6 million women published by The BMJ.
These findings reinforce the need for international standards for healthy GWG alongside lifestyle support and public health measures to improve outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide, say lead researchers Helene Teede and Rebecca Godstein.
Gaining too much or too little weight during pregnancy (known as gestational weight gain or GWG – the combined growth of mother and baby) is associated with increased health risks for both mother and baby, which can continue into later life.