Pregnancy risk from dieting

Women who diet regularly to stay trim have been found to put on excessive weight during pregnancy - which can endanger the life of their child.

A study of 1223 pregnant women in the United States showed that women who habitually diet before pregnancy put on more than the recommended weight while pregnant than women who do not diet. Excess weight during pregnancy increases the risk of gestational diabetes - short-term diabetes that lasts only through the pregnancy but which leads to an increase in caesarean sections and big babies, among other complications.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association yesterday, found that, though women who were already underweight before pregnancy stayed underweight, "restrained eaters" and binge-dieting "weight cyclers" put on about two kilograms more than women who did not diet. Already obese women gained less weight.

A reason for the effect on dieters was that dieting followed by overeating could distort their ability to know when they were full, or misconceptions about eating for two during pregnancy.

Auckland nutritionist Chris Cook said that there was a growing number of women in New Zealand suffering from eating disorders and higher rates of obesity, both of which could cause complications in pregnancy.

"At Auckland Hospital there has been a 25 per cent increase in gestational diabetes in the last year," she said. "If there is ever a time to look at the quality of what you're eating it is during pregnancy and for women to go easy on the high-fat and high-sugar stuff."

Pregnant women needed to increase their mineral and vitamin intakes from eating vegetables and fruit, bread, cereals, dairy products, chicken, fish and meats, Mrs Cook said.

Nearly one in three New Zealanders are overweight, with more than 800,000 people classified as obese.

The Health Ministry says 20 per cent of young women may be at risk of developing an eating disorder.

- © Fairfax NZ News