CHANGES IN FAT, FAT-FREE MASS AND BODY WATER IN HUMAN NORMAL PREGNANCY

  1. N. G. J. Pipe Senior Registrar1,
  2. T. Smith Physicist2,
  3. D. Halliday Research Scientist3,
  4. C. J. Edmonds Consultant Physician3,
  5. C. Williams Graduate Research Assistant4,
  6. T. M. Coltart Consultant Obstetrician4

Article first published online: 31 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1979.tb11240.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 86, Issue 12, pages 929–940, December 1979

Additional Information

How to Cite

Pipe, N. G. J., Smith, T., Halliday, D., Edmonds, C. J., Williams, C. and Coltart, T. M. (1979), CHANGES IN FAT, FAT-FREE MASS AND BODY WATER IN HUMAN NORMAL PREGNANCY. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 86: 929–940. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1979.tb11240.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Obstetrics, Guy's Hospital, London

  2. 2

    Division of Radioisotopes

  3. 3

    Division of Clinical Sciences MRC Clinical Research Centre, Watford Road, Harrow

  4. 4

    Department of Obstetrics, Guy's Hospital, SE1

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 31 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 31 AUG 2005

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Summary

Measurements of body weight, total body water and total body potassium (40K) were made serially on three occasions during pregnancy and once post partum in 27 normal pregnant women. Skinfold thickness and fat cell diameter were also measured. A model of body composition was formulated to permit the estimation of changes in fat, lean tissue and water content of the maternal body. Total maternal body fat increased during pregnancy, reaching a peak towards the end of the second trimester before diminishing. Serial measurements of fat cell diameter showed poor correlation, whilst total body fat calculated from skinfold thickness correlated well with our estimated values for total body fat in pregnancy.

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