This research looked at pre-pregnancy weight loss interventions for adult women with overweight or obesity. The review combined data from a small number of studies involving 1,632 women. The main finding was that these interventions did not lead to a statistically significant change in the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, the interventions did result in statistically significant decreases in weight and body mass index (BMI).
The analysis noted limitations, including a small number of studies, a small sample size, and large differences in the types of weight loss interventions used. Safety concerns were not reported in the included studies.
The main reason to be careful is that the evidence does not show that pre-pregnancy weight loss causes a change in GDM risk. Readers should understand that while weight and BMI may decrease, the impact on diabetes risk remains uncertain based on this evidence.
