Dieting during pregnancy poses severe developmental risks for the fetus. In fact, a pregnant woman should to eat an additional 300 calories per day to account for extra energy spent during pregnancy. Ensuring proper nutrition, including folic acid, calcium, protein, and iron, will promote proper development, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dieting during pregnancy is not recommended.
Fetal Brain Development
"Nutrition Concepts and Controversies" by Frances Sizer and Eleanor Whitney, advises against any carbohydrate sparing diet during pregnancy. They state that any diet that deprives the body of glucose may cause ketosis and deprive the fetal brain of nutrients. When glucose is deprived, the fetal brain cannot grow and develop properly.
Neural Tube Defects
In a study published in the "Journal of Epidemiology" by Carmichael, et al., four dieting behaviors were studied in pregnant women. These diets include fasting, dieting for weight loss, restricted calorie diets, and eating disorders. All four of these diets were found to increase the likelihood of neural tube defects during the first trimester of pregnancy. Neural tube defects include diseases such as spina bifida and anencephaly.
Low Birth Weight
Any calorie restricted diet is usually lacking in essential vitamins and minerals. During pregnancy it is imperative that a woman ingest the proper amount of essential vitamins and minerals, some of which are needed at an increased level during pregnancy. Calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium are essential to the development of bones, teeth, blood and vital organs, state Sizer and Whitney. Meeting the daily values of these minerals during pregnancy will ensure a safe birth weight and proper development of the fetus.
References
- "Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies"; Sizer, Francis, Whitney, Eleanor; 2004.
- "American Journal of Epidemiology: Dieting Behaviors and Risk of Neural Tube Defects"; Carmichael, Suzan L., Shaw, Gary M., Shaffer, Donna M., Laurent, Cecile, Selvin, Steve; 2003.
- The Mayo Clinic
