Problem Of Obesity During Pregnancy

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31480, 21 September 1967, Page 2

Problem Of Obesity During Pregnancy

(New Zealand Press Aseoeiationt

AUCKLAND, September 20.

The Indian woman in Fiji who ate 1438 calories a day increased her eating to 2200 calories daily when she came to live in Auckland. The Samoan woman, content with 3800 calories a day at home, began to eat 4466 calories (including plenty of icecream) when she came to New Zealand.

These figures, based on a survey at St Helen’s Hospital, Auckland, were given to visiting United States obstetricians today by Mr I. B. Faris, its medical superintendent.

Addressing a seminar arranged for the delegates on their way to attend a conference in Sydney, he said an analysis of 2500 St Helens patients showed that what medical men believed about the relation of weight to pregnancy was in some cases quite wrong. Sixty-four per cent of European women were Under 10 stone at the time of booking for admission and 30 per cent of Pacific Islanders were over 13 stone.

A surprising finding had been the effect of the mother's weight on babies. A distinct relationship had been shown, the infant's weight rising as the mother's weight rose above 10 stone.

There was also evidence that a woman who ate more and put on weight during her pregnancy would have a heavier baby. It had previously been thought that the infant was in the condition of a "parasite,” not affected by the

mother’s food intake before birth. To set down a diet, as nutritionists did, of 2100 calories during pregnancy was unrea- ; listic. Obesity and overeating . were serious health hazards in i both men and women.