Impact of Third-Trimester Energy Restriction on Postnatal Maternal and Infant Body Composition After Gestational Diabetes: Insights from the DiGest Follow-up Study

Highlight

• Third-trimester energy restriction and modest weight loss in women with gestational diabetes and BMI ≥25 kg/m2 were safe and did not impair infant growth up to 12 months postnatally.
• Infants of mothers who lost weight during pregnancy had a reduced risk of being large-for-gestational age and exhibited lower fat mass at 3 months without evidence of growth faltering.
• Maternal weight at 3 months postpartum was lower after pregnancy weight loss but converged by 12 months, indicating transient effects on maternal weight.
• These findings support consideration of controlled energy restriction as a glycemic management strategy in gestational diabetes without adverse early growth or developmental consequences for the offspring.

Study Background