Research evidence reveals that significant factors associated with
developing GDM are high pre-pregnancy body mass index, previous
GDM, a history of giving birth to large-for-gestational-age baby, and
family history of diabetes (Webb, 2013). The odds ratios of developing
GDM among women who are overweight, obese, and severely obese
are 2.14, 3.56, and 8.56, respectively, when compared with those who
are normal weight (Chu, Callaghan, Kim, Schmid, & Lau, 2009).