Diet and exercise too late in pregnancy

Friday July 10th, 2015

A programme of diet and exercise proved unsuccessful in preventing obese women developing diabetes during pregnancy, researchers have reported.

The researchers say the programme was successful in helping the women reduce weight and get fit.

But this was not enough to prevent gestational diabetes - the kind that occurs during pregnancy.

It was developed to help obese women who became pregnant.

The project in London, UK, compared the effects of the programme on some 783 women - who were compared with another 772 women who underwent standard antenatal care.

About 26% of women in both groups developed gestational diabetes, the researchers report in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

But women in the project on average gained one pound less in weight than the others during pregnancy.

Researcher Professor Lucilla Poston, of King's College, London, UK, said: "Whilst the intervention did not prevent gestational diabetes, the UPBEAT study provides a new and effective strategy to improve diet and physical activity in obese pregnant women adoptable in a UK healthcare setting.

"We are now following the mothers and children from this cohort to see whether changes in the mothers' diet and activity are sustained and have an effect on their health and that of their offspring."

Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology 9 July 2015

Tags: Childbirth and Pregnancy | Diet & Food | Fitness | UK News | Women's Health & Gynaecology

Printer friendly page