If you’re wondering if being fat while pregnant can be harmful to your baby, you are on the right track with your thought process. Though the National College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says it’s advisable for women of healthy weight to gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy, this is not a green light to get fat during pregnancy, or stay fat if you were obese before becoming pregnant.
It is not dangerous for a fat woman to lose weight during pregnancy as long as the weight loss is done safely as a result of portion control and cutting back on unhealthy, processed, sugary foods.
Being fat during pregnancy is never a good idea.
Researchers from Imperial College London conclude from their study that babies born to women with a higher pre-pregnancy BMI, are actually fatter; plus, these babies have more fat in their liver: not a good thing. The full report is in the Sept. 2011 Pediatric Research.
The researchers remark that extra BMI (body mass index) can affect the baby’s lifelong metabolic health — in a very negative way. For the research, 105 babies were scanned with MRI to determine the level of fat in their liver cells, along with total fat content in their bodies and the way it was distributed.
“Fatter women have fatter babies and there is more fat in the babies’ livers,” says lead study author Professor Neena Modi, who is from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College. “If these effects persist through childhood and beyond, they could put the child at risk of lifelong metabolic health problems.”
A baby’s lifestyle after birth is very important as far as formulating lifelong good health, but Professor Modi points out: “There is growing evidence that a baby’s development before birth has a major impact on their health in later life. This means that the prevention of obesity needs to begin in the womb.”
Obesity in the U.S. and the U.K. is very prevalent, so it’s no surprise that so many pregnant women are fat.
But not because being pregnant caused their bodies to become fat, but because fat women do get pregnant. However, there are many women who start out in their pregnancy only moderately or even mildly overweight, but then the pounds really pile on throughout the course of the pregnancy.
Seated strength training (without straining) is very safe for healthy pregnant women, fat or not.
I’m a certified personal trainer, and it’s important that I note that at any given time at any health club, it is extremely rare to see visibly pregnant women working out. If a woman has a normally-progressing pregnancy, she can exercise right up to the ninth month to help fight obesity (an OBGYN will provide exercise guidelines).
Professor Modi explains, “Importantly, the link between maternal BMI and amount of fat in the baby spreads across the entire range of BMI, meaning it’s not just an issue for overweight and obese mums. We need to identify what the optimal BMI for the mother is so we can help women ensure that their bodies are in the best possible condition before they get pregnant.”
Obesity or “plumpness” is not a sign of good health. Neither is being underweight in terms of dangerously low levels of body fat and low muscle tone. A woman need not carry large amounts of fat throughout her body in order for the developing baby to get all the nutrients it needs.
A 160 pound, 5-3 pregnant woman who restricts processed foods, works out, has marvelous muscle tone, a strong back from weightlifting routines, a very efficient cardiovascular system from aerobic exercise, and who sleeps well because she exercises well, is far healthier than a 230 pound, 5-3 pregnant woman who does not exercise much, eats mostly processed foods and does not sleep well overnight.
Don’t equate lots of fat with good health; instead, equate lots of muscle and “clean eating” with good health. Every so often I do see visibly pregnant women lifting weights, and they look fabulous!
A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight, and obese is over 30. Is it advisable for a fat, pregnant woman to “go on a diet”? The concept of “dieting” is ambiguous. If a fat, pregnant woman cuts out junk food, she will lose some excess fat. Cutting out junk food will not harm a developing baby! No fetus needs soda, candy and donuts!
Cut out the soda, cookies, ice cream, pies, cakes, fast food, etc., snack on healthy foods when hungry in between meals, and add in an exercise program based on ACOG guidelines, and excess, unhealthy fat will come off while your health and energy levels greatly improve.
Pregnancy is not the right time to start a vigorous exercise program, nor is it the right time to experiment with fad diets or diets that severely restrict carbs or protein. Portion control and eating mostly healthy, whole foods are the key.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110819131521.htm