Myth: Carbohydrates in a mother’s diet do not affect the baby’s birth weight.
Truth: This is false.
Carbohydrates are classified as a macronutrient along with proteins and fats. The body needs macronutrients to meet and sustain metabolism and energy levels. Carbohydrates consist of sugars, starches and fibres found in vegetables, fruits, dairy and grain products.
The British Journal of Nutrition published a study investigating the association between the intake of macronutrients during pregnancy and the baby’s birth weight. According to the study, researchers found that each additional 10 g of carbohydrates consumed per day was associated with an increase of approximately 4 g in birth weight. This suggests that additional carbohydrate intake during pregnancy is associated with increased birth weight.
Reference
- Sharma SS, Greenwood DC, Simpson NAB, Cade JE. Is dietary macronutrient composition during pregnancy associated with offspring birth weight? An observational study. Br J Nutr. 2018;119(3):330-339. doi:10.1017/S0007114517003609
