| Pregnancy and
Obesity |
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 Weight gain during
pregnancy is a natural and essential phenomenon which happens to almost
all women who get pregnant. You must not be perturbed by the fact that
you have gained weight during pregnancy. This weight gain cannot be
termed as obesity. Obesity is a condition when the body accumulated
excessive fat but this weight gain is due to the weight of the embryo
growing in the mother’s womb and this weight gain is for the
healthy growth of the fetus and a healthy pregnancy.
Most often women tend to thing that pregnancy weight gain will make
them obese. It’s quite normal to gain 25-35 pounds during the
pregnancy. This weight gain is most essential for providing support to
the growing womb. Pregnant women quite often try to crash diet during
pregnancy due to fear of weight gain and end up in serious problems
themselves and for the unborn child. The net result is a stunted child,
nutrition deprived child which risks heart attacks in the later stages
of life.
Pregnancy requires the women to have special pregnancy diet rich in
fiber, vitamins and iron. This can be achieved with a diet rich in
whole grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts which are a rich source of
essential minerals. Fats and fatty oils should be reduced to the
minimum as these do no good to the child. Calories should not be cut at
the cost of nutrition to the body and child due to the unwarranted fear
of becoming obese.
Developing countries, where the female education levels are not very
high, should give due publicity to the facts of pregnancy.
Misconceptions regarding weight gains and obesity should be clarifies
and importance of exercise during and after pregnancy should be given
due publicity as it is this weight gain which if not removed after
pregnancy results in obesity in the long run. Depriving the body of the
essential nutrients and calories during pregnancy is not the solution,
but a strict exercise regime is. To prevent obesity controlled and
regular exercising is essential and there are no alternative to it.
Obesity after pregnancy is not a result of women over-eating or
increasing their calorie intake, but their failure to get rid of the
weight gained during pregnancy. Bad diet which included a lot
of ‘bad’ fats during and after pregnancy is tough
to get rid off. These results in a lot of psychosomatic
disorders which lead to slower metabolism which disrupts body
mechanisms and ultimately results in obesity. It requires a balanced
diet along with a regular exercise regime and most essentially the will
to reduce to ensure that the weight gained during pregnancy does not
get converted to obesity.
For a healthy child eat a healthy diet, enjoy your pregnancy period and
be a healthy mother by following a healthy exercise regime. World
Health Organization also has a recommended health and diet plan made
for pregnant women. This serves as a guide to the doctors who can use
it as a ready recorner for prescribing diet to a pregnant woman.
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