Impact of Dietary Choices Among Pregnant Ladies Attending Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore

Abstract: Pregnancy is the time period when maternal dietary selection of food items impacts the developing fetus as well as health of mother. Objective: To assess the impact of dietary choices among pregnant ladies. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. A sample size of 100 pregnant ladies aged above 20 years were selected. Data were collected through a pretested questionnaire Results: Findings showed that 40% ladies were overweight. Pregnant ladies took foods from vegetable group (51%) while fewer intakes were observed from meat group. Mean neonatal birth weight was 2.8 Kg. Most of the neonates (77%) were having normal birth weight. Conclusions: Although dietary intake of food items was insufcient, positive neonatal outcome was observed. Majority of the dietary food items were used from vegetable group. Keywords: Pregnancy, balanced diet, malnutrition, dietary choices, neonatal birth weight.