Dietary restraint and weight gain during pregnancy

Objectives: To explore dietary intake and weight gain during pregnancy in r elation to dietary restraint. Design: Longitudinal prospective study. Attitudes to weight gain during pre gnancy were assessed using self-administered questionnaires and dietary int ake by 7-d weighed diet records in early and late pregnancy. Setting: South West London 1995 - 1996. Subjects: 74 Caucasian pregnant women expecting their first or second baby were recruited through a London hospital and data from 62 women were analys ed. Results: Restrained eaters were significantly less likely to experience wei ght gains within the recommended range for their pre-pregnancy body mass in dex (BMI) (P = 0.026). They gained either more or less weight than recommen ded. Conclusions: Dietary restraint appears to have undesirable influences on ea ting and weight gain during pregnancy which require further attention. Sponsorship: South Bank University and Cow and Gate Nutricia Ltd. provided financial assistance for this project. Descriptors: dietary restraint; pregnancy; weight gain; slimming.