Losing weight between babies is “crucial” for obese people, a new study has found.
Researchers at St Louis University found the interval between pregnancies is an important time for obese people, who should go on a diet in an attempt to lose weight before giving birth to another child.
Scientists studied 10,444 American females who delivered their first two babies between 1998 and 2005 – finding that obese women who lost weight by conducting regimes such as the Atkins diet were significantly more likely to give birth to normal-sized babies than those who kept above a body mass index score of 30.
Sarah Hopkins, exercise physiologist and instructor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women’s health at St Louis University said: “If you do gain too much weight during your first pregnancy, it isn’t too late. With a healthy diet and exercise, you can lose the weight before your second pregnancy.”
Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and exercising regularly is the most commonly recommended way to lose weight quickly.