title: Obstetric practice in the United States of America may contribute to the obesity epidemic.
abstract: The recommended weight gain of pregnancy in women over the past years has increased from 17.6 lb in 1945 to 25-35 lb in 1990. This has been associated with larger infant birth weights, more difficult deliveries and increased obesity in children and adults, with little benefit in reducing perinatal morbidity. It may be time to reevaluate the amount of weight normal pregnant women should gain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 2 Columbia Drive, Suite 542, Tampa, FL 33606, USA. imccollu@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Spellacy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain