The excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is not only linked with the increased long-term maternal weight, but, according to a new study, it also has cumulative effect over multiple pregnancies.
For the study, published in Journal of Women”s Health, the researchers selected 1,181 women and analysed the effect of excessive GWG pregnancies on the body mass index (BMI) at midlife.
“The research showed each pregnancy with excessive GWG was associated with 64 per cent increase in the likelihood of obesity at midlife, regardless of the race, ethnicity, number of pregnancies and physical activity levels,” said Susan G. Kornstein of Virginia Commonwealth University Institute in the US.