Pregnancy: Abdominal Fat In First Trimester Predicts Gestational Diabetes Risk

High levels of abdominal fat during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the development of gestational diabetes, according to a recent study.

While weight-gain is common during pregnancy, overweight or obese women (those with a BMI ranging from 25 to over 30) face a greater risk of certain health problems, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, infection, overdue pregnancy, labor problems, the need for a C-section and even pregnancy loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

While previous research has shown that visceral fat can be a risk factor for developing diabetes, this study shows that both visceral and total abdominal fat were predictors of developing gestational diabetes, according to researchers. 

During the study, they looked at about 500 women between 18 and 42. They used an ultrasound to scan at 11 to 14 weeks gestation to measure visceral fat, subcutaneous fat and total fat in the abdominal region. Visceral fat is the kind that forms between and around internal organs, including the intestines and the stomach, producing toxins that can make the body resistant to insulin. Subcutaneous fat, on the other hand, is found just beneath the skin, while total fat is the combination of both.

Researchers found that higher levels of abdominal fat resulted in an increased risk of developing diabetes at around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Previous research has shown that up to 20 to 50 percent of the women who developed gestational diabetes went on to develop Type 2 diabetes within five years after their pregnancy, according to researchers.

Prevention efforts that promote both exercise and healthy eating could help many reduce their risk of excess abdominal weight gain. Screening patients during the early stages of pregnancy could also help to decrease risk by noting those who are the most increased risk of gestational diabetes, researchers say.

The study was published in Diabetes Care. 

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