Maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy is something a leading Isle of Man doctor has backed.

NICE, the UK's health watchdog, had issued new guidelines about telling people that they should eat normally and not for two after they become pregnant.

Babies’ health is being risked by more and more women getting obese these days. Women obesity is reaching epidemic levels, which is not safe at all.

Paul Emerson, Manx public health consultant, said that becoming pregnant does not mean that you should not exercise or eat more.

He said, "There are really no risks at all to mums who are pregnant doing moderate exercise, such as walking and swimming. We don't advocate rigorous exercise around after 20 weeks in pregnancy. Certainly they should not be running because there are risks to the ankles and other parts of the anatomy."

Doctors have been stating for long that overweight or obese women are at a risk of high blood pressure and diabetes and it can get even difficult for them to have a normal delivery.

There are possibilities of having a still birth or their baby having some abnormality.

Women should try to maintain a healthy weight before, during and after pregnancy.