title: Excessive weight gain in women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with increased neonatal adiposity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  More than 40% of women with a normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) exceed the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines' recommended weight gain of 25-35 lb. Excessive gestational weight gain is one modifiable factor that may be contributing to childhood overweight and obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in adiposity from neonates born to mothers with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI who either gained within or above IOM guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonatal adiposity was measured within 72 h of birth by the method of air displacement plethysmography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with mothers who gained within IOM guidelines (N = 27), mothers with excessive gestational weight gain (N = 11) (mean 29.0 vs. 45.2 lb) had neonates with 50% more fat mass (348 vs. 525 g) and 3% greater body fat (10.7 vs. 13.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased adiposity at birth may predispose these children to increased risk of obesity and highlight the importance that women avoid gaining excessive weight in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2605, USA. j-josefson@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Josefson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Metzger
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010991:Plethysmography; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain