Pregnant women who think that they are 'eating for two' gain excessive weight

A new study has found that overweight or obese women, who think that they are "eating for two", are more likely to experience excessive weight gain while pregnant.

Cynthia Chuang from Penn State College of Medicine studied the attitudes and habits of women who gained appropriate weight and those who exceeded guidelines.

Participants in the study were asked about their diet habits, experience with morning sickness and physical activity habits during pregnancy.

Those who gained the appropriate amount of weight stuck to a meal plan and chose foods carefully. These women also had little or no increase in the amount of calories they consumed during pregnancy and exercised as much or more than they had before the pregnancy.

Women who gained excessive weight described the experience as "eating for two." They had fewer goals and exercised less than usual during their pregnancy. They also made less healthy food choices and ate more as a result of cravings.

The study was published in the journal Obesity Research and Clinical Practice.