A cohort study of 495 pregnant women in Chongqing examined whether taste preferences and dietary patterns were linked to excessive gestational weight gain. The researchers found that women who preferred Mala flavour were more likely to follow a high-carbohydrate diet, characterised by elevated cereal intake, and this pattern was associated with a higher risk of gaining too much weight during pregnancy. Mediation analysis suggested that Mala preference did not act mainly on its own; instead, its effect on excessive gestational weight gain was largely explained through high-carbohydrate eating habits. The findings suggest that prenatal nutrition guidance in Southwest China should address both Mala flavour preferences and carbohydrate-heavy eating patterns.

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