Normal pregnancy: weight gain by BMI: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Normal pregnancy: weight gain by BMI

Sample item

A woman with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 22 kg/m2 attends her first antenatal visit. Based on the Institute of Medicine recommendations, what total weight gain is advised for her singleton pregnancy?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. 11.5 to 16 kg

For a normal BMI (18.5 to 24.9) the recommended total gain is 11.5 to 16 kg. Underweight women are advised 12.5 to 18 kg, overweight women 7 to 11.5 kg and obese women 5 to 9 kg. The target depends on pre-pregnancy BMI, not on a single figure for all women.

Option by option

  • A. 11.5 to 16 kg (correct)

    Correct. This is the recommended range for a normal pre-pregnancy BMI.

  • B. 12.5 to 18 kg

    This is the range advised for underweight women.

  • C. 7 to 11.5 kg

    This is the range advised for women who are overweight.

  • D. 5 to 9 kg

    This is the range advised for women who are obese.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, 11.5 to 16 kg. For a normal BMI (18.

Why is "12.5 to 18 kg" not the answer?

This is the range advised for underweight women.

Why is "7 to 11.5 kg" not the answer?

This is the range advised for women who are overweight.

Why is "5 to 9 kg" not the answer?

This is the range advised for women who are obese.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Normal pregnancy: weight gain by BMI in OBG. 5 to 24.9) the recommended total gain is 11.5 to 16 kg. Underweight women are advised 12.5 to 18 kg, overweight women 7 to 11.5 kg and obese women 5 to 9 kg. The target depends on pre-pregnancy BMI, not on a single figure for all women.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Normal pregnancy: weight gain by BMI?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.