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

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the efficacy of a personal dietary intervention on gestational weight gain control with a general intervention promoting healthy eating.

Methods

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.

Results

Maternal weight gain at term was significantly lower both as compared to pre-pregnancy weight (8.2 ± 4.0 vs. 13.4 ± 4.2 kg; p < 0.001) and to weight at baseline (7.7 ± 3.8 vs. 13.7 ± 4.3 kg; 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).

Conclusions

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy

    Costantino Di Carlo, Giuseppina Iannotti, Stefania Sparice, Maria Pia Chiacchio, Elena Greco, Giovanni Antonio Tommaselli & Carmine Nappi

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  1. Costantino Di Carlo
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  2. Giuseppina Iannotti
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  3. Stefania Sparice
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  4. Maria Pia Chiacchio
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  5. Elena Greco
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  6. Giovanni Antonio Tommaselli
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  7. Carmine Nappi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Costantino Di Carlo.

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Di Carlo, C., Iannotti, G., Sparice, S. et al. The role of a personalized dietary intervention in managing gestational weight gain: a prospective, controlled study in a low-risk antenatal population. Arch Gynecol Obstet 289, 765–770 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-3054-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-3054-y

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