--- title: Pregnancy Weight Gain Guidelines May be Revised date: 2008-01-30T18:01:33-05:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/pregnancy-weight-gain-guidelines-may-be-revis" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Pregnancy Weight Gain Guidelines May be Revised By Rachel Walden • January 30, 2008 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. The Institute of Medicine has launched a [project](http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=48863) to reevaluate recommendations for weight gain in pregnancy, and held its first [meeting](http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3788/48191/49354.aspx) to discuss the topic on January 17th, with representatives from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, March of Dimes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Women’s Health, and other agencies in attendance. The committee in charge of the project has several [stated goals](http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=48863), including a review of the evidence on weight gain and maternal and child health outcomes, identifying gaps in that evidence and defining research priorities, and reconsidering current approaches to the topic of weight gain in pregnancy. Notably, the committee plans to take into account racial/ethnic and age differences and health indicators beyond the BMI, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. Adolescents and women carrying multiples may also receive special consideration. The last [IOM report and guidelines](http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=1451) on this topic, issued in 1990, defined appropriate weight gain by BMI, allowing more weight gain for those with low body mass indices to gain more weight than those with higher BMIs. According to a news item on the meeting, one attendee from the National Institutes of health reminded the committee:> "that 'BMI classifications are screens; they are not themselves diagnostic.' Not everyone in a certain range is at a healthy weight, he said. There are people in the 20-25 kg/m2 range who have all the manifestations and adverse effects of obesity, and there are people in a higher BMI group who could be called overweight or obese but have no adverse health effects, he emphasized." The attendees also noted that weight gain above the recommended amount isn't the only problem, as the number of women with inadequate weight gain and prevalence of low birth weight have also risen in recent years. --- #### 1 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. **Hilary** on Jan 31, 2008 I read the goals, and they didn't specifically mention examining the mode of delivery. I have read in a few places that trial of labor has better outcomes than prophylactic cesarean. But, most doctors seem to schedule cesareans for moms who are obese or gain a lot of weight. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Pregnancy & Childbirth](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/pregnancy-childbirth) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)