Researchers have discovered that obese women should lose weight in their pregnancy, rather than adding on pounds to keep away from troubles during delivery.

The St. Louis University study has detected that by limiting the weight increase of pregnant women who are fat considerably lessens their chances of developing pre-eclampsia, hypertension and many other problems brought on by pregnancy. They are also less prone to have a cesarean delivery, and are more expected to have a normal weight baby.

Scientists have analyzed the results of weight increase during pregnancy of over 120,000 fat pregnant mothers in Missouri. The study results that are released in the Obstetrics & Gynecology have detected that these women don’t have to put on extra weight to have a successful pregnancy.

Women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 are suggested to gain less than the currently recommended 15 pounds, guidelines that were initially recommended by the Institute of Medicine in 1990. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is measured normal weight.

Raul Artal, M.D., study author and chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women’s health at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, said, “This study confirms what we’ve suspected all along—that obese women don’t have to gain any weight during their pregnancy.”

“Guidelines for nutrition during pregnancy at that time were based solely on expert opinion and not on scientific data. Obesity was not the problem it is now. Fifty percent of Missouri’s population is either overweight or obese. The problem is also prevalent in many other states in the country,” Artal added.