Most pregnant women know how important it is to take care of themselves during their pregnancy. They know to get plenty of rest and to never smoke or drink alcohol. But not every soon-to-be mother understands just what an impact her diet has on her baby’s health and well-being.
New research is suggesting that a mother’s diet during pregnancy not only determines her baby’s birth weight but whether or not that child may grow up to be an obese adolescent and even an obese adult.
The Study
A study called “Maternal Diet in Pregnancy Is Associated with Differences in Child Body Mass Index Trajectories from Birth to Adolescence” that was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that what a woman eats during pregnancy will significantly impact whether or not her child is at risk for developing obesity later in life.
We now know that one in five children in the United States is obese and health experts understand that these children have a higher likelihood of developing asthma, type 2 diabetes, and other health issues. These children also have an increased risk of developing low self-esteem and have poor academic performance. As obese children become adults, they will experience a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases.
What is the Best Pregnancy Diet?
After collecting and sifting through numerous data sets, the researchers found a direct link between a mother eating a high-inflammatory diet and her child being at higher risk for significant weight gain. The data clearly suggests that pregnant women, as well as women who are planning on getting pregnant in the near future, should focus on eating an anti-inflammatory diet such as the Mediterranean diet.
If you would like to work with a nutritionist to come up with the optimal anti-inflammatory diet for you and your baby’s health, please reach out to me!
RESOURCES:
- https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/diet-during-pregnancy-5475/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-nutrition/art-20046955
- https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/asfn-ita031021.php
- https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-10-link-birth-weight-cardiovascular.html
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