Weight gain and dietary intake during pregnancy in industrialized countries--a systematic review of observational studies.

Background: Gestational weight gain (GWG) above the recently recommended ranges is likely to be related to adverse pregnancy outcomes and therefore a challenge in industrialized countries.

Aims: We conducted a systematic review on observational studies in order to gain more evidence on whether diets with lower caloric/protein content or other diets might be associated with lower GWG.

Methods: We searched in MEDLINE and EMBASE for observational studies written in English or German reporting associations between diet and GWG in singleton pregnancies of healthy women in industrialized countries.

Can gestational weight gain be modified by increasing physical activity and diet counseling? A meta-analysis of interventional trials.

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) increases the risk of a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes and was recently identified as a potential risk factor for childhood obesity. It is therefore of interest whether GWG can be modified by an intervention combining dietary counseling and physical activity.

Objective: The objective was to review published data on interventions to reduce GWG by modulating diet and physical activity during pregnancy.

Early rapid growth: no association with later cognitive functions in children born not small for gestational age.

Background: There is an association between rapid growth in early life and overweight in childhood. This adverse association needs to be balanced against potential beneficial effects on cognitive functioning observed in children who are born small for gestational age (SGA).

Objective: We examined potential beneficial effects of rapid growth on cognitive functions in non-SGA children.