Synopsis
A study reveals that foetuses of women gaining excessive weight in the first trimester exhibit increased fat distribution, potentially leading to obesity and related health issues in adulthood. Researchers emphasize the significance of timing in weight gain for effective interventions.Key Takeaways
- Excess weight gain in the first trimester correlates with foetal fat distribution.
- NIH study analyzed over 2,600 pregnancies.
- Increased abdominal and arm fat thickness observed in foetuses.
- Timing of weight gain may be crucial for health interventions.
- Findings may help prevent obesity-related conditions later in life.
New Delhi, Jan 18 (NationPress) Foetuses of women who experience excessive weight gain during the first trimester of pregnancy may exhibit increased fat distribution throughout their bodies, as revealed by a recent study.
Conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the research indicates that foetuses in utero could have elevated fat levels, particularly in their upper arms and abdomen.
This study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, could play a crucial role in crafting early intervention strategies aimed at mitigating adult obesity linked with higher birth weights.
Significant weight gain in early pregnancy is recognized as a risk factor for adult obesity and associated ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The researchers examined data from a prior study involving over 2,600 singleton pregnancies.
This analysis encompassed maternal weight before and during pregnancy, along with up to five 3D ultrasound scans conducted throughout the pregnancy.
The findings revealed that pregnant individuals who gained more than 2 kilograms (approximately 4.4 pounds) in the first trimester had foetuses with larger abdominal circumferences.
In comparison to women who gained an adequate amount of weight during pregnancy, these foetuses also displayed a greater abdominal area and increased thickness of arm fat.
Moreover, the research team noted that foetuses from the excessive weight gain category maintained larger arm and abdominal measurements until the end of the pregnancy, even if subsequent weight gain was not deemed excessive during the second and third trimesters.
Historically, most previous studies failed to analyze foetal measurements in 3D during pregnancy, focusing instead on total weight gain across the entire pregnancy rather than just in the initial trimester.
“These findings imply that the timing of weight gain may be more critical than total weight gain in shaping strategies to prevent excessive foetal growth and decrease the risk of heart disease and other health issues in the future,” the researchers stated.
