Body fat mass and basal metabolic rate in Dutch women before, during, and after pregnancy: a reappraisal of energy cost of pregnancy.
Body weight, fat mass, and basal metabolic rate were measured longitudinally from early pregnancy until 2 mo postpartum in 57 healthy Dutch women; 23 of whom were also studied before pregnancy. Weight gain over pregnancy was 11.8 +/- 3.7 kg and weight gain from 12 wk gestation to delivery was 10.3 +/- 3.8 kg. Birth weights and placental weights were 3458 +/- 527 and 657 +/- 114 g, respectively. Gain in maternal fat stores over pregnancy was 2.0 +/- 2.6 kg and difference in fat mass from 12 wk gestation to 5 wk postpartum was 1.2 +/- 2.2 kg. The energy equivalent of the gain in fat stores, including costs of synthesizing, can be estimated as 22,000 kcal. The cumulative increment in basal metabolism over pregnancy was 34,350 +/- 30,000 kcal. When the energy equivalent of the gain in tissue other than fat stores is assumed to be approximately 11,750 kcal, total energy cost of pregnancy is at 68,100 +/- 38,560 kcal.
van Raaij
J M
JM
Department of Human Nutrition, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Schonk
C M
CM
Vermaat-Miedema
S H
SH
Peek
M E
ME
Hautvast
J G
JG
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009426:Netherlands; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain