The Claim

A 1-standard deviation increase in percent energy intake from ultra-processed foods during pregnancy is associated with a 31% higher odds of excessive gestational weight gain, a 0.68 mg/L increase in C-reactive protein, a 6.7% greater retention of gestational weight gain, and 1.09 kg more postpartum weight retention in U.S. pregnant women, after adjustment for total energy intake and other covariates.

Source: Associations of ultra-processed food intake with maternal weight change and cardiometabolic health and infant growth

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
72score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In U.S. pregnant women, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods during pregnancy is linked to greater weight gain during pregnancy and more weight retained after childbirth, along with higher levels of a marker of inflammation.

See the scientific wording

A 1-standard deviation increase in percent energy intake from ultra-processed foods during pregnancy is associated with a 31% higher odds of excessive gestational weight gain, a 0.68 mg/L increase in C-reactive protein, a 6.7% greater retention of gestational weight gain, and 1.09 kg more postpartum weight retention in U.S. pregnant women, even after adjusting for total energy intake and other covariates, suggesting a potential link between ultra-processed food consumption and adverse maternal metabolic outcomes.

Why this might work

Eating more ultra-processed foods increases sugar and fat additives that overwhelm the gut lining, causing immune cells to activate and release inflammatory signals. These signals disrupt how the body stores and uses energy, making it hold onto more fat during and after pregnancy.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Associations of ultra-processed food intake with maternal weight change and cardiometabolic health and infant growth

    Pregnant women who ate more ultra-processed foods like chips and soda gained more weight during pregnancy and kept on more weight after birth, even if they ate the same number of calories as others. Their blood also showed more signs of inflammation.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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