Maternal Fatness in Mexican Women Predicts Body Composition Changes in Pregnancy and Lactation

Abstract

Well-nourished women in developed countries usually gain an average of about 10 to 15 kg in weight and 2 to 4 kg of body fat during pregnancy, and the average weight of their babies is about 3.3 kg at birth. An extra 55,000 kcal is needed over the course of pregnancy (Institute of Medicine, 1990). Women in developing countries are more likely to have a restricted food intake, smaller weight gains during pregnancy, and a smaller increase in body fat (Prentice et al., 1987; Lawrence et al., 1987). Frequently they are short because of growth-stunting in their childhood. Yet, unless food deprivation is severe, average fetal growth is similar to that in more privileged situations. An additional stress is placed on maternal nutritional status by the long period of lactation generally found in developing countries, especially in more rural regions. If women are to meet the energy demands of pregnancy and lactation, they may have to resort to some form of metabolic adaptation to maintain energy balance when intake is low.