You can take steps to give your child a longer, healthier life
before your child is even born. For starters, you should aim to
keep your weight in a healthy range before getting pregnant. And
once you're pregnant, regular prenatal checkups will help you
achieve a healthy weight gain. (Most women of normal weight
should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy, but check
with your healthcare provider to see what your ideal range is.)
Gaining too much or too little weight during pregnancy can
affect your child's metabolism for many years to come. If you
pack on too many pounds, your child may be programmed to put on
weight, too. A 2004 study published in Pediatrics found that
11-year-olds whose mothers were overweight during pregnancy were
at especially high risk for obesity, high blood pressure,
abnormal cholesterol, and high blood sugar, a dangerous
combination known as the "metabolic syndrome." As risky as extra
weight can be, pregnancy is no time to scrimp on food. If you
start starving yourself, your