As evidence builds on the risk for babies of overweight mothers, a new simple guide defines the right advice to follow.
The current reality in the UK is that nearly 50 per cent of pregnant women attending their first maternity appointment are overweight (19 per cent) or obese (26 per cent). We also know that there is a lot of information accessible to women, but the advice is often unhelpful or conflicting.
A recent ITF poll revealed just how little understanding mums-to-be have, with almost half (41 per cent) of respondents thinking that it’s okay to’ eat for two’, and 64 per cent saying they would welcome more advice or support relating to their pregnancy.
Available online, this leaflet, poster and in-depth booklet outline the ten steps that all women can incorporate day-to-day before and during pregnancy.
The booklet, www.infantandtoddlerforum.org/media/upload/pdf-downloads/TSHP_booklet_FINAL.pdf, provides the clinical evidence and rationale for each step, and is specifically for healthcare professionals working with women. All the material is supported by leading organisations, the National Obesity Forum, the Association for Nutrition and the Pre-school Alliance.
Dr Atul Singhal, Professor of Paediatric Nutrition at the UCL Institute of Child Health, and Chair of the ITF, said, ‘Pregnancy is a perfect window of opportunity for women to reassess and improve what and how much they eat and their level of exercise. Unfortunately, very often the only advice they receive is about what not to do, rather than how they can improve their diet to get healthier.
‘Better nutrition guidance in pregnancy should be considered a public health priority. The Ten Steps for a Healthy Pregnancy offer a practical guide for mothers-to-be to manage their weight while eating well to sustain a healthy pregnancy, and dispel common pregnancy myths and misconceptions.’
