Weekly Weight Gain in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Neonatal Birth Weight - China, 2011-2021

What is already known about this topic? Elevated gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy among women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is correlated with an increased instance of large for gestational age (LGA) and macrosomia. However, it remains uncertain whether managing weekly GWG following a GDM diagnosis positively impacts fetal birth weight. What is added by this report? Our study found that GWG following GDM diagnosis correlates positively with the risk of LGA and macrosomia among all body mass index (BMI) subgroups, especially for overweight and obese women. What are the implications for public health practice? The results of this research highlight the importance of enforcing a more stringent regulation on GWG on a weekly basis for overweight and obese women diagnosed with GDM, particularly when considering neonatal growth.