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Cited by 180Gestational Diabetes Research and ManagementBirth, Development, and HealthPregnancy and preeclampsia studies

Inadequate weight gain in overweight and obese pregnant women: what is the effect on fetal growth?

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Catalano, Patrick M., Mele, Lisa, Landon, Mark B., Ramin, Susan M., Reddy, Uma M., Casey, Brian, Wapner, Ronald J., Varner, Michael W. +6 more·2014·American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
DOI 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.02.004PMC PMC4117705
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Abstract

Objective We sought to evaluate inadequate gestational weight gain and fetal growth among overweight and obese women. Study design We conducted an analysis of prospective singleton term pregnancies in which 1053 overweight and obese women gained >5 kg (14.4 ± 6.2 kg) or 188 who either lost or gained ≤5 kg (1.1 ± 4.4 kg). Birthweight, fat mass, and lean mass were assessed using anthropometry. Small for gestational age (SGA) was defined as ≤10th percentile of a standard US population. Univariable and multivariable analysis evaluated the association between weight change and neonatal morphometry. Results There was no significant difference in age, race, smoking, parity, or gestational age between groups. Weight loss or gain ≤5 kg was associated with SGA, 18/188 (9.6%) vs 51/1053 (4.9%); (adjusted odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.7; P = .003). Neonates of women who lost or gained ≤5 kg had lower birthweight (3258 ± 443 vs 3467 ± 492 g, P < .0001), fat mass (403 ± 175 vs 471 ± 193 g, P < .0001), and lean mass (2855 ± 321 vs 2995 ± 347 g, P < .0001), and smaller length, percent fat mass, and head circumference. Adjusting for diabetic status, prepregnancy body mass index, smoking, parity, study site, gestational age, and sex, neonates of women who gained ≤5 kg had significantly lower birthweight, lean body mass, fat mass, percent fat mass, head circumference, and length. There were no significant differences in neonatal outcomes between those who lost weight and those who gained ≤5 kg. Conclusion In overweight and obese women weight loss or gain ≤5 kg is associated with increased risk of SGA and decreased neonatal fat mass, lean mass, and head circumference.

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  • Modest energy restriction in women with GDM does not increase adverse outcomes or SGA rates compared to the baseline population.

    “Emerging evidence suggests that modest energy restriction in women with GDM does not increase adverse outcomes or SGA rates compared to the baseline population [60,61,62].”

    From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Results (page unavailable) report no statistically significant difference in SGA risk within the GDM subgroup between women who lost weight or gained less than 5 kg and those who gained more than 5 kg. But the Methods describe an analysis of gestational weight change, not an intervention testing modest energy restriction, and the paper does not establish that adverse outcomes were unchanged relative to a baseline population. In the overall cohort, the Results instead report a higher SGA rate with weight gain of 5 kg or less. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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References 36 · Cited by 180

Research works printed but not linked: 24

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Authors
Catalano, P. M., Mele, L., Landon, M. B., Ramin, S. M., Reddy, U. M., Casey, B., Wapner, R. J., Varner, M. W., Rouse, D. J., Thorp, J. M., Saade, G., Sorokin, Y., Peaceman, A. M., & Tolosa, J. E.
Affiliations
  • MetroHealth Medical Center (US)
  • George Washington University (US)
  • The Ohio State University (US)
  • Memorial Hermann (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
  • Columbia University (US)
  • University of Utah (US)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (US)
  • Wayne State University (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-08
Volume
211
Issue
2
Pages
137.e1-137.e7
ISSN
0002-9378 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ajog.2014.02.004
PMC
PMC4117705
OpenAlex
W2112485747
Cited by
180
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1
FWCI
20.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Lenus, The Irish Health Repository (Dr Steevens Hospital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (HD 22965-19)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD34208, HD27869, HD40544, HD53097, HD21410, HD34136, HD27917, HD40485, HD27860, HD27915, HD40500, HD40545, HD53118, HD40560, HD34116, HD36801, HD40512)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01-RR00080, C06-RR11234, UL1TR000439, UL1-RR025764, UL1-RR024989)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
Keywords
maternal obesity, overweight in pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, small for gestational age, birth weight, neonatal fat mass, head circumference, neonatal anthropometry, weight loss in pregnancy
MeSH terms
Adult, Birth Weight, Body Height, Cephalometry, Female, Glucose Tolerance Test, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Small for Gestational Age, Male, Obesity, Pregnancy, Retrospective Studies, Weight Gain, Body Mass Index, Fetal Development, Overweight, Body Fat Distribution

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