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Excessive gestational weight gain in the first trimester among women with normal glucose tolerance and resulting neonatal adiposity

Journal of Perinatology volume 36, pages 1034–1038 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To assess whether weight gain above or below Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended amounts in an ethnically diverse obstetric population with normal glucose tolerance is associated with differences in neonatal adiposity.

Study Design:

In this prospective cohort study, healthy women with normal glucose tolerance based on the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups guidelines were enrolled. Gestational weight at multiple time points were collected. Neonatal adiposity was measured by air displacement plethysmography at 24 to 72 h of life. Analyses included Fisher’s exact test, analysis of variance and a trajectory analysis using a group-based weight gain trajectory model with a censored normal distribution.

Results:

Overweight and obese women were more likely to exceed IOM weight gain guidelines. Regardless, there was no significant difference in %body fat of neonates born to mothers who either met or exceeded gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines. GWG timing influenced neonatal anthropometrics: women who gained excessively by the first prenatal visit had neonates with significantly higher birth weight (3.91 vs 3.45 kg, P<0.001) and %body fat (13.7 vs 10.9%, P=0.0001) compared with women who had steady and moderate GWG.

Conclusion:

Avoidance of excessive GWG in the first trimester may prevent high amounts of neonatal adiposity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the participants who volunteered for this study. Funding for this study was provided by grant number K12 HD055884 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. We would like to acknowledge the critical review and comments provided by Alan Peaceman, MD and Linda Van Horn, RD, PhD, both at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The funding source had no involvement in the study design, data analysis and interpretation, or writing of this manuscript.

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    J L Josefson

  2. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, NY, USA

    H Simons

  3. Department of Medicine-Endocrinology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    D M Zeiss

  4. Department of Medicine-Endocrinology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    B E Metzger

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  1. J L Josefson
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Correspondence to J L Josefson.

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Josefson, J., Simons, H., Zeiss, D. et al. Excessive gestational weight gain in the first trimester among women with normal glucose tolerance and resulting neonatal adiposity. J Perinatol 36, 1034–1038 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.145

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