Overnutrition in prenatal and neonatal life: a problem?

In most areas of the world nutritional problems are related to quantitative and qualitative deficiencies. However, in North America the possible harmful effects of overnutrition deserve careful consideration.Little information is available concerning overnutrition during prenatal and neonatal life. The author draws attention to this possibility by outlining clinical and biochemical disorders occurring in the newborn which are related to excessive ingestion of calories, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals before and after birth. Particular reference is made to the ingestion of nutritional substances during pregnancy in amounts that are relatively innocuous to the mother but may be harmful to the infant in utero.Further research in this interesting field is needed in an attempt to assess the effect on the fetus of qualitative overnutrition during pregnancy.