Dieting While Pregnant May Harm Your Baby

A new study, carried out on baboons, suggests that dieting in the first half of pregnancy will damage the development of the baby's brain.

The researchers found that when pregnant baboons were following a moderately calorie-restricted diet, the brain development of their foetus was affected.

Scientists believe this may have implications for human pregnancy too; dieting while pregnant could lower your child's IQ.

The study, led by Dr Peter Nathanielsz and Dr Thomas McDonald, was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (not currently available online).

The baboons were divided into two groups:

One group ate as much as they wanted during the first half of pregnancy while the other group was fed 30 percent less, a level of nutrition similar to what many prospective mothers experience, especially if they have morning sickness.

The unborn babies in the group of "dieting" baboons had slower cell division, and fewer connections formed between neurons.

The scientists raised particular concerns about two vulnerable groups: teen mothers, whose growing bodies mean they need more nutrients for themselves, and older mothers, who have stiffer arteries which reduce the flow of blood (and therefore nutrients) into the womb.

Other experts have agreed that dieting is a bad idea in pregnancy, but have suggested that the risks may not be so great as the scientists fear. Dr Patrick O'Brien, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, was quoted in the Daily Mail saying:

All the studies in humans have not suggested that moderate dieting in the first half of pregnancy causes any problems. Our guidance is unchanged - that pregnant women should eat a healthy mixed diet and should avoid dieting, but also avoid "eating for two".

If you're pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant:

Aim to be at a healthy weight before conceiving. (This can also boost your chances of getting pregnant.)Talk to your doctor about your diet. Don't try to diet during pregnancy unless you're doing so because of medical advice.

Image credit: greensuitcase

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