Weight gain for would-be mothers is a key focus of the federal government’s new national medical guidelines for pregnancy to be launched on Friday by health minister Greg Hunt.

Addressing the National Women’s Health Summit in Sydney, Mr Hunt will also announce $2.5 million in medical research funding as part of a national approach to combat the often misunderstood condition, endometriosis, and the development of a national maternity services strategy.

The guidelines recommend all pregnant women should be offered the opportunity to be weighed at every antenatal visit.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines on Pregnancy Care stress the importance of body mass index before pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy for the health of both mothers and babies.

The guidelines recommend GPs, midwives, obstetricians and other health workers discuss weight gain, diet and exercise with all pregnant women and all patients should be offered the opportunity to be weighed at every antenatal visit.