The role of a personalized dietary intervention in managing gestational weight gain: a prospective, controlled study in a low-risk antenatal population

Abstract

To compare the efficacy of a personal dietary intervention on gestational weight gain control with a general intervention promoting healthy eating. Prospective, controlled study including 154 low-risk pregnant women randomly allocated to two groups: 77 receiving a personalized diet plan and a close follow-up by a dietician (intervention group), 77 receiving standard dietary care by means of a brochure on healthy eating during pregnancy (control group). Pre-pregnancy weight, gestational age, height, weight and BMI at baseline, weight at term, gestational age at delivery and newborn weight were recorded for all participants. The primary end-point was the difference in body weight between baseline and term. Secondary end-points were the difference in body weight between pre-pregnancy and term and in newborn weights. Maternal weight gain at term was significantly lower both as compared to pre-pregnancy weight (8.2±4.0 vs. 13.4±4.2kg; p<0.001) and to weight at baseline (7.7±3.8 vs. 13.7±4.3kg; p<0.001) in the intervention group as compared to controls. A positive, significant correlation between the delta weight between baseline and term and newborn weight was observed in both groups, but stronger in patients from the intervention group (intervention group R=0.76, p<0.001; control group R=0.35, p=0.01). This study suggests that a personalized nutritional intervention, in which the dietician plays an active role within the obstetric team, may represent a successful approach in limiting weight gain in pregnant women.