Energy requirements of pregnancy in the Philippines.

40 rural Philippine women were studied longitudinally from 11-16 wk pregnancy until 3 months post partum. Energy intake, body weight, fat mass, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and physical activity patterns were recorded every 6 wk. The cumulative energy cost of pregnancy over the second and third trimesters of pregnancy was 189 MJ (1130 kJ/day). There was no increase in energy intake, rather a very small reduction over the final two trimesters. Changes in physical activity provided part of the estimated energy needs (375-415 kJ/day throughout the second and third trimesters of pregnancy). These measurements leave an unexplained deficit of at least 700 kJ/day. Nevertheless, there was an adequate mean birthweight (2885 g) and a 10% incidence of low birthweight. The findings seem to suggest that pregnancy outcome can be successful despite marginal energy intake.