Early healthy eating intervention in pregnancy helps obese women

(HealthDay)—A healthy eating (HE) intervention is associated with lower gestational weight gain (GWG) and fasting glucose than a physical activity (PA) intervention, according to a study published online June 25 in Diabetes Care.

In a multicenter randomized trial, David Simmons, M.D., from Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, U.K., and colleagues compared the impact of three lifestyle interventions on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. One hundred fifty pregnant women (body mass index, ≥29 kg/m²) without GDM were randomized to HE, PA, or HE + PA. Women received five face-to-face and four optional telephone-coaching sessions.

The researchers found that 32 percent of the trial participants developed GDM by 35 to 37 weeks, and 20 percent achieved GWG of less than 5 kg. Compared with those in the PA group, women in the HE group had less GWG (−2.6 kg; P = 0.03) and lower fasting glucose (−0.3 mmol/L; P = 0.01) at 24 to 28 weeks. Differences were not significant for the HE + PA group versus other groups.

"Although a larger trial is still clearly needed, these pilot findings are promising and support the use of early HE interventions in obese pregnant women," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to Novo Nordisk.