Influence of Medical Nutrition Therapy and Eating Behavior on Gestational Weight Gain

Influence of Medical Nutrition Therapy and Eating Behavior on Gestational Weight Gain in Women With Diabetes

To assess the association of the number of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) consultations and eating behavior (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating) with GWG in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Women in puerperium with known T2DM or GDM diagnosed at the hospital were invited to participate in the study. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed with a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Weight (kg) and height (m) were measured using a mechanical column scale (SECA).

The specific dimensions of eating behavior were measured through the 18-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-18 (TFEQ-18).

The Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) was offered every 2-4 weeks. This therapy consists of providing a food plan with the following recommendations: limiting carbohydrate intake to 35-45% of total calories calculated as 30 kcal/kg based on pregestational BMI for an ideal weight .

We evaluated the effect of MNT on GWG using a multiple linear regression model

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women in puerperium with known T2DM or GDM diagnosed at the hospital.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women with a twin or other multiple pregnancy, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), or intolerance to carbohydrates, and those with additional diseases (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, hyper- or hypothyroidism, lupus, kidney or liver disease).