Weight control program for obese pregnant women

We evaluated an intervention program to control pregnancy weight gain among obese women with body mass index > 30 by a dietary and physical activity program. Maternal weight gain and pregnancy outcome were evaluated. Of 27 obese women, 25 (92%) completed the study. Mean age at entry to the program was 31.7 years (±3.2 SD). Fourteen women kept their pregnancy weight gain to ≤6 kg (study weight goal). Three women had mild hypertension (12%), but there were no cases of gestational diabetes. Three were delivered by emergency cesarean sections and 22 had uncomplicated vaginal deliveries (88%). All women delivered normally sized babies with normal Apgar scores. An early intervention program may be successful in helping obese women control weight gain during pregnancy without adverse perinatal outcomes.