Preventing Long-Term Risk of Obesity for Two Generations: Prenatal Physical Activity Is Part of the Puzzle
Table 1
Gestational weight gain recommendations based on the 1990 and 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines [5, 79].
IOM 1990
IOM 2009
Pre-pregnancy BMI category
Recommendedb range of total weight gain
Pre-pregnancy BMI category
Meana rate of weight gain in the 2nd and 3rd trimester
Recommendedb range of total weight gain
BMI < 19.8 kg/m2 (low)
12.5–18.0 kg
BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 underweight
0.5 kg/week
12.5–18.0 kg
BMI 19.8–26.0 kg/m2 (normal)
11.5–16.0 kg
BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 normal weight
0.4 kg/week
11.5–16 kg
BMI 26.1–29.0 kg/m2 (high)
7.0–11.5 kg
BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 overweight
0.3 kg/week
7.0–11.5 kg
BMI > 29.0 kg/m2 (obese)
at least 6.0 kg
BMI ≥ 30c kg/m2 obese
0.2 kg/week
5.0–9.0 kg
aRounded values.
bCalculations assume a total of 0.5–2.0 kg weight gain in the first trimester.
cA narrower range of weight gain may be advised for women with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 35.0 kg/m2 or greater. Individualized advice is recommended for these women.