POSITION STATEMENT
It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics that women of childbearing
age should adopt a lifestyle optimizing
health and reducing risk of birth defects,
suboptimal fetal development, and chronic
health problems in both mother and child.
Components leading to healthy pregnancy
outcome include healthy prepregnancy
weight, appropriate weight gain and physical
activity during pregnancy, consumption of a
wide variety of foods, appropriate vitamin
and mineral supplementation, avoidance of
alcohol and other harmful substances, and
safe food handling.