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Research conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health reveals that fetuses in pregnancies where individuals experienced excessive weight gain during the first trimester exhibit increased fat distribution, particularly in the upper arm and abdominal areas. These insights may play a critical role in strategies aimed at mitigating early life weight gain, which is an established risk factor for adult obesity and its associated diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, stem from a collaborative effort involving the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and other research bodies.
The team analyzed comprehensive data sourced from a previous study encompassing over 2,600 singleton pregnancies. This included maternal weight records prior to and throughout pregnancy, along with multiple three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound scans conducted during the pregnancy course. Results indicated that individuals who gained more than 2 kilograms (approximately 4.4 pounds) in the first trimester had fetuses with notably larger abdominal circumferences and arm fat thickness compared to those with appropriate weight gain.
Notably, the fetuses from the group categorized with excessive first trimester weight gain maintained elevated arm and abdominal measurements throughout the remainder of the pregnancy, even when subsequent weight gain did not categorize as excessive in the later trimesters. This finding marks a divergence from many previous studies that primarily focused on total weight gain across the entire pregnancy and often did not employ 3D fetal measurement techniques during gestation.
The researchers emphasized that their results indicate a potential need to focus on the timing of weight gain rather than solely the total weight gain throughout pregnancy. This approach may lead to more effective interventions aimed at managing fetal growth and potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular and other health issues later in life.
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