Final answer:
During pregnancy, a woman does not need to consume an additional 500-1000 calories. A person needs only about 300 extra calories per day, on average, to support the growing fetus. Doubling the caloric intake can lead to excessive weight gain and potential health risks for the baby.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout a typical pregnancy, a person needs only about 300 extra calories per day, on average, to support her growing fetus. Most of the extra calories are needed during the last trimester when the fetus is growing most rapidly. Doubling her caloric intake during pregnancy is likely to cause too much weight gain, which can be detrimental to her baby. Babies that weigh much more than the average 7.5 pounds at birth are more likely to develop diabetes and obesity in later life.