Dieting safe for pregnant women

Dieting in pregnancy is safe for women and does not carry risks for the baby, a review of research has suggested Friday. The British Medical Journal analysis looked at the findings from 44 previous studies involving more than 7,000 women. The London-based team said following a healthy diet - and not eating for two - prevents excess weight gain and cuts the risk of complications. But current guidelines do not advocate dieting or weight monitoring. The advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), published in 2010, says: "Dieting during pregnancy is not recommended as it may harm the health of the unborn child." However women are advised to aim to reach a healthy weight before conceiving. Half of the UK population is either overweight or obese and the rates are rising. And in Europe and the US, between 20 percent and 40 percent of women gain more than the recommended weight during pregnancy. High weights are linked to complications such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes and high blood pressure as well as early delivery. This review, funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), compared diet, exercise or a combination of the two. Dietary advice was based on limiting calorie intake, having a balanced diet and eating foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and pulses.