(Newser)
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The current guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy may be contributing to the nation's obesity epidemic, some doctors say, and radical changes in the recommendations are under consideration. Docs say a revision is long overdue, the AP reports. "Most of us think overall the weight gain recommendations are too high," says a Yale med school expert.
Current US guidelines suggest gaining 15 to 40 pounds, depending on the woman's pre-pregnancy weight, but the folk wisdom "eat for two" is tenacious. Excess weight gain during pregnancy can result in overweight babies, labor problems, and birth defects. A private advisory group will begin collecting hard numbers this fall in hopes of reducing complications for both moms and kids.
