Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Mar;115(3):597-604.
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181cfce4f.

Gestational weight gain and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

Monique M Hedderson  1 , Erica P Gunderson, Assiamira Ferrara
Affiliations

Gestational weight gain and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

Monique M Hedderson et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Mar.

Erratum in

  • Obstet Gynecol. 2010 May;115(5):1092

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the relationship between the rate of gestational weight gain before the 50-g, 1-hour oral glucose challenge test screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and subsequent risk of GDM.

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study (345 women with GDM and 800 women in the control group) within a multiethnic cohort of women delivering between 1996 and 1998 who were screened for GDM at 24-28 weeks of gestation. GDM was diagnosed according to the National Diabetes Data Group plasma glucose cut-offs for the 100-g, 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Women's plasma glucose levels, weights, and covariate data were obtained by medical record chart review.

Results: After adjusting for age at delivery, race/ethnicity, parity, and prepregnancy body mass index, the risk of GDM increased with increasing rates of gestational weight gain. Compared with the lowest tertile of rate of gestational weight gain (less than 0.27 kg/week [less than 0.60 lb/wk]), a rate of weight gain from 0.27-0.40 kg/wk (0.60-0.88 lb/wk) and 0.41 kg/wk (0.89 lb/wk) or more, were associated with increased risks of GDM (odds ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 0.96-2.14; and odds ratio 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.16-2.60, respectively). The association between the rate of gestational weight gain and GDM was primarily attributed to increased weight gain in the first trimester. The association was stronger in overweight [corrected] and nonwhite women.

Conclusion: High rates of gestational weight gain, especially early in pregnancy, may increase a woman's risk of GDM. Gestational weight gain during early pregnancy may represent a modifiable risk factor for GDM and needs more attention from health care providers.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for gestational diabetes mellitus associated with rate of gestational weight gain up to screening test by body mass index (BMI). Normal weight, BMI less than 25.0; overweight, BMI 25.0–29.9; obese, BMI 30 or more. Hedderson. Gestational Weight Gain and GDM. Obstet Gynecol 2010.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Diabetes Association. Gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2001;23(suppl 1):S77–9. - PubMed
    1. Metzger BE. Summary and recommendations of the Third International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes. 1991;40(suppl 2):197–201. - PubMed
    1. O’Sullivan JB, Mahan CM. Criteria for the oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy. Diabetes. 1964;13:278–85. - PubMed
    1. Silverman BL, Rizzo TA, Cho NH, Metzger BE. Long-term effects of the intrauterine environment. The Northwestern University Diabetes in Pregnancy Center. Diabetes Care. 1998;21(suppl 2):B142–9. - PubMed
    1. Institute of Medicine, Subcommittee on Nutritional Status and Weight Gain during Pregnancy. Nutrition during pregnancy. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences; 1990.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources