Determinants of Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in Urban,Low-Income Women

BackgroundFactors influencing excessive weight gain in pregnancy have not been well-studied among urban, low-income women.MethodsThis prospective cohort study of 94 prenatal care patients at a large university hospital in Philadelphia examined associations of modifiable midpregnancy behaviors and nonmodifiable or early pregnancy factors with excessive gestational weight gain. Data were collected through questionnaires and medical record abstraction from 2009 to 2011.FindingsThe majority of women were African American (83%) and all (100%) received Medicaid. Nearly two thirds (60%) were overweight or obese in early pregnancy and 41% experienced excessive gain. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, significant predictors of excessive gestational weight gain included high early pregnancy body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 4.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43–12.34 for overweight/obese vs. normal weight), nulliparity (OR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.17–9.62 for nulliparity vs. multiparity), and clinician advice discordant with Institute of Medicine guidelines (OR, 5.88; 95% CI, 1.04–33.32 for discordant vs. concordant advice). Watching under 2 hours of television daily (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.03–1.03), and engaging in regular physical activity during pregnancy (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.11–1.09) were suggestive of a reduced risk of excessive gain.ConclusionsIn this sample of urban, low-income women, high early pregnancy body mass index, nulliparity, and discordant clinician advice were directly associated with excessive gestational weight gain, with a trend toward decreased risk for viewing fewer hours of television and engaging in regular physical activity. Intervening on these targets may optimize gestational weight gain and promote long-term maternal health.     

The Feasibility and Efficacy of a Behavioral Intervention to Promote Appropriate Gestational Weight Gain

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Nearly half of all women gain above gestational weight gain (GWG) recommendations. This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a pilot behavioral...     

Stress and Anxiety are Associated with Lower Gestational Weight Gain in Hispanic Women

ObjectivePrior studies indicate that inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes, and that stress and anxiety may contribute to GWG. However, these studies often failed to use validated measures of stress and anxiety, measured only total GWG, and were limited to largely non-Hispanic White populations. We explored the association between stress and anxiety and GWG.MethodsWe used data from 1,308 participants in Proyecto Buena Salud, a prospective cohort of predominantly Puerto Rican women 18–40 years of age (2006–2012). We measured stress with the Perceived Stress Scale and anxiety with the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and abstracted GWG from medical records.ResultsThe average GWG was 31.0 ± 16.1 pounds. More than one-half of participants (51.8%) exceeded Institute of Medicine guidelines for GWG. After adjusting for age and pre-pregnancy body mass index, women in the highest quartiles of stress and anxiety in early pregnancy had approximately 4 lbs lower GWG (β = −3.89; SE = 1.54; p = .012 and β = −4.37; SE = 1.54; p = .005, respectively) as compared with those in the lowest quartiles. Similarly, women in the highest quartiles of mid/late pregnancy stress and anxiety had lower GWG (β = −3.84 lbs; SE = 1.39; p = .006, and β = −3.51 lbs; SE = 1.38; p = .011, respectively) and a lower rate of GWG in the second and third trimesters (β = −0.117 lbs/week; SE = 0.044; p = .008 and β = −0.116 lbs/week; SE = 0.043; p = .007, respectively), compared with those in the lowest quartiles.ConclusionsHigh stress and anxiety were associated with lower GWG. Interventions to decrease stress and anxiety during pregnancy should include counseling on maintaining healthy GWG.     

A Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Excessive Gestational Weight Gain

Objectives Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is a key modifiable risk factor for negative maternal and child health. We examined the efficacy of a behavioral intervention in preventing excessive GWG. Methods 230 pregnant women (87.4 % Caucasian, mean age = 29.2 years; second parity) participated in the longitudinal Glowing study (clinicaltrial.gov #NCT01131117), which included six intervention sessions focused on GWG. To determine the efficacy of the intervention in comparison to usual care, participants were compared to a matched contemporary cohort group from the Arkansas Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey (PRAMS). Results Participants attended 98 % of intervention sessions. Mean GWG for the Glowing participants was 12.7 ± 2.7 kg for normal weight women, 12.4 ± 4.9 kg for overweight women, and 9.0 ± 4.2 kg for class 1 obese women. Mean GWG was significantly lower for normal weight and class 1 obese Glowing participants compared to the PRAMS respondents. Similarly, among those who gained excessively, normal weight and class 1 obese Glowing participants had a significantly smaller mean weight gain above the guidelines in comparison to PRAMS participants. There was no significant difference in the overall proportion of the Glowing participants and the proportion of matched PRAMS respondents who gained in excess of the Institute of Medicine GWG guidelines. Conclusions for Practice This behavioral intervention was well-accepted and attenuated GWG among normal weight and class 1 obese women, compared to matched participants. Nevertheless, a more intensive intervention may be necessary to help women achieve GWG within the Institute of Medicine’s guidelines.     

Diet Quality Indices and Physical Activity Levels Associated with Adequacy of Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Diet Quality Index (DQI) and the Physical Activity (PA) levels associated with adequacy of gestational weight gain in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 172 pregnant women with a single fetus and a diagnosis of GDM participated. Food intake was self-reported on the food frequency questionnaire and DQI was quantified using the index validated and revised for Brazil (DQI-R). To assess PA, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered. Gestational weight gain was classified, following the criteria of the Institute of Medicine, into adequate (AWG), insufficient (IWG), or excessive (EWG) weight gain. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed, with level of significance <0.05. The participants were divided into 3 groups: AWG (33.1%), IWG (27.3%), and EWG (39.5%). The analysis indicated that if the pregnant women PA fell into tertile 1 or 2, then they had a greater chance of having IWG, whereas those with the lowest scores on the DQI-R, whose PA fell into tertile 2, and pregestational obesity women had the greatest chance of having EWG. This study has shown that low PA levels may contribute towards IWG. On the other hand, a low final DQI-R score, representing inadequate food habits, low PA levels, and pregestational obesity may increase the chance of EWG in patients with GDM.     

Exploration of Diet Quality by Obesity Severity in Association with Gestational Weight Gain and Distal Gut Microbiota in Pregnant African American Women: Opportunities for Intervention

Maternal and Child Health Journal - To conduct an exploratory examination of dietary patterns and quality during pregnancy in African-American women who were class I, II, or III obese, and those...     

Gestational Weight Gain and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Underweight Pregnant Women: A Population-Based Historical Cohort Study

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Objective Limited data are available that estimate the effect of gestational weight gain on maternal and neonatal outcomes in underweight women according to...     

Association of Restraint and Disinhibition to Gestational Weight Gain among Pregnant Former Smokers

IntroductionGaining excessive weight during pregnancy is associated with immediate maternal and fetal complications as well as longer term obesity. Prepregnancy body mass index, age, and smoking cessation have been related to gestational weight gain (GWG); however, less is known about how eating behaviors, that may be amenable to modification and have been related to weight gain outside of pregnancy, affect GWG.MethodsThe present study evaluated the relationship of dietary restraint and disinhibition to GWG in a sample of women (n = 248) who quit smoking before or early in pregnancy. Women self-reported height and prepregnancy weight during their third trimester. GWG was calculated by subtracting prepregnancy weight from third trimester weight. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire assessed restraint and disinhibition.ResultsAverage GWG was 14.60 (±7.64) kg and 47% of women had a GWG greater than the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Linear regression models were used to examine restraint and disinhibition as correlates of GWG, and multinomial logistic regressions were utilized to determine whether eating behaviors were associated with inadequate or excessive GWG. Restraint was associated positively with total GWG, but disinhibition was not associated with GWG. Thus, conscious attempts to restrict intake were associated with GWG beyond the influence of covariates.ConclusionThese findings highlight the potential influence of modifiable eating behaviors on GWG and demonstrate the need for additional research to determine how these behaviors relate to GWG over the course of pregnancy.     

The Effect of a General Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Delivered Around Pregnancy on Gestational Weight Gain and Infant Growth

Maternal and Child Health Journal - A life-course perspective emphasizes healthy behaviors before, during, and after pregnancy to support a multi-generational risk reduction in obesity for mothers...     

Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Gestational Weight Gain and Their Association with Birthweight with a Focus on Racial Differences

Our objectives were to examine the interaction between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) and their association with birthweight, with a focus on racial differences. We used birth certificate data from live singleton births of South Carolina resident mothers, who self-reported their race as non-Hispanic white (NHW, n = 140, 128) or non-Hispanic black (NHB, n = 82,492) and who delivered at 34–44 weeks of gestation between 2004 and 2008 to conduct a cross-sectional study. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between our exposures (i.e., race, BMI and GWG) and our outcome birthweight. Based on 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines, the prevalence of adequate, inadequate and excessive GWG was 27.1, 24.2 and 48.7%, respectively, in NHW women and 24.2, 34.8 and 41.0%, respectively, in NHB women. Adjusting for infant sex, gestational age, maternal age, tobacco use, education, prenatal care, and Medicaid, the difference in birthweight between excessive and adequate GWG at a maternal BMI of 30 kg/m² was 118 g (95% CI: 109, 127) in NHW women and 101 g (95% CI: 91, 111) in NHB women. Moreover, excessive versus adequate GWG conveyed similar protection from having a small for gestational age infant in NHW [OR = 0.64 (95% CI 0.61, 0.67)] and NHB women [OR = 0.68 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.72)]. In conclusion, we report a strong association between excessive GWG and higher infant birthweight across maternal BMI classes in NHW and NHB women. Given the high prevalence of excessive GWG even a small increase in birthweight may have considerable implications at the population level.     

Overweight, Gestational Weight Gain and Elevated Fasting Plasma Glucose and Their Association with Macrosomia in Chinese Pregnant Women

To provide a current estimation of overweight, gestational weight gain(GWG), elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in pregnant women in Kunshan, China and investigate their association with macrosomia using recommendations of IOM and International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups. We conducted a population-based retrospective study and analyzed routine data from Kunshan Maternity and Child Care Surveillance System of 27,322 women with singleton full-term birth from 2006 to 2010. The prevalence of maternal overweight at early pregnancy according to WHO BMI categories (BMI: 25.0–29.9 kg/m²) or the cutoffs for Chinese (BMI:24.0–27.9 kg/m²), elevated FPG (≥5.1 mmol/L) were estimated. Proportions of women with GWG below, within and above 2009 IOM recommendations were used to evaluate the adequacy of GWG. The association between maternal overweight, GWG, elevated FPG and macrosomia was analyzed by multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of maternal overweight was 8.9 % according to WHO BMI categories and 11.9 % according to Chinese cutoffs. The rate of elevated FPG at first prenatal visit was 19.4 %. Overweight women gained, on average, 12.2 ± 5.3 or 13.0 ± 5.2 (kg) during gestation, 57.1 or 63.93 % of which had excessive weight gain above IOM recommendations (6.8–11.4 kg) according to WHO BMI categories or Chinese cutoffs, respectively. Maternal overweight, GWG and elevated FPG were positively and significantly associated with macrosomia after adjusting for maternal age and gestational weeks at delivery. Maternal overweight, excessive weight gain, elevated FPG are common in the Chinese population in Kunshan. These metabolic risk factors associated with macrosomia should be controlled under the recommendations for Chinese pregnant population.     

Using Focus Groups to Develop a Heart Disease Prevention Program for Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Women

Although low-income women have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than higher-income women, health promotion and disease prevention are often low priorities due to financial, family, and health care constraints. In addition, most low-income women live in environments that tend to support and even promote high risk CVD behaviors. Low-income African-American, Hispanic, and White women constitute one of the largest groups at high risk for CVD but few heart disease prevention programs have effectively reached them. The purpose of this project was to use feedback from focus groups to generate ideas about how to best structure and implement future CVD intervention programs tailored to low-income populations. Seven focus groups were conducted with 51 low-income African-American, Hispanic, and White women from two urban and two agricultural communities in California. The women in the study shared many common experiences and barriers to healthy lifestyles, despite their ethnic diversity. Results of the focus groups showed that women preferred heart disease prevention programs that would address multiple CVD risk factors, emphasize staying healthy for themselves, teach specific skills about how to adopt heart-healthy behaviors, and offer them choices in effecting behavioral change. For health information, they preferred visual formats to written formats. They also expressed a desire to develop knowledge to help them separate health myths from health facts in order to reduce their misconceptions about CVD. Finally, they stressed that health care policies and programs need to address social and financial barriers that impede the adoption of heart-healthy behaviors.     

Gestational Weight Gain and Postpartum Weight Retention in a Cohort of Nova Scotian Women

Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) may predispose mothers to becoming overweight or obese. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between GWG, according to the American Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines, and postpartum weight retention (PPWR). A cohort of 12,875 women from Nova Scotia, Canada with at least two consecutively recorded pregnancies was identified through a population-based perinatal database between 1993 and 2010. GWG was calculated as the difference between delivery and prepregnancy weights. PPWR, analyzed as a continuous variable in linear regression models, was calculated via interpregnancy weight change. Fifty eight percent of the total study population gained in excess of the IOM guidelines. Mean PPWR, adjusted for age and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) among women with excess GWG was 5.0 kg (95 % CI 4.9–5.2), greater than women with adequate (2.1 kg, 95 % CI 1.8–2.3) or inadequate GWG (0.3 kg, 95 % CI 0–0.7). Effect modification by prepregnancy BMI was observed; the relationship between excess GWG and increased PPWR was observed in all prepregnancy BMI categories, yet was greatest among underweight women (7.5 kg, 95 % CI 6.6–8.3). Effect modification by parity was also observed; in contrast to multiparous women, primiparous women who gained in excess of GWG guidelines retained more postpartum weight (5.3 kg, 95 % CI 5.1–5.5 vs. 4.3 kg, 95 % CI 4.0–4.7). This study demonstrates that excess GWG is associated with an increase in the amount of weight retained after pregnancy. Interventions targeted to promote optimal GWG are warranted.     

Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Gestational Weight Gain Restriction in Overweight/Obese Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background: Overweight/obesity is associated with pregnancy-related disorders, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). Although multiple interventions have been proposed to prevent GDM and restrict GWG, our knowledge of their comparative efficacy is limited. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and identify the optimal intervention strategy to prevent GDM and restrict GWG among overweight/obese pregnant women. Methods: Randomized controlled trials that recruited overweight/obese pregnant women at <20 gestational week were obtained. Predictive and confidence interval plot and surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) were performed using Stata statistical software to determine and compare the efficacy of interventions (diet, physical activity (PA), diet + PA intervention and medication). Results: 23 studies with a total of 8877 participants were eligible for analysis. Our results indicated that although neither PA, diet + PA, diet nor medication intervention could significantly protect overweight/obese women from the development of GDM, there was a trend that PA and diet + PA intervention were preventive factors of GDM. Of these, PA intervention (SUCRA, 82.8%) ranked as the superior strategy, and diet intervention (SUCRA, 19.7%) was the least efficacious regimen. Furthermore, interventions of diet, PA and diet + PA were significantly beneficial for GWG restriction, whereas medication intervention could not restrict GWG. In detail, diet intervention (SUCRA, 19.7%) ranked as the optimal regimen, whilst PA intervention (SUCRA, 62.3%) ranked as the least efficacious regimen. Conclusion: Although none of the interventions could offer remarkable benefit for GDM prevention, interventions of diet, PA and diet + PA were significant factors to restrict GWG. In aggregate, diet + PA intervention seemed the superior choice for the prevention of both GDM and excessive GWG. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022313542.     

Postpartum Weight Change in Relation to Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Gestational Weight Gain in Women in Low-Income Setting: Data from the KITE Cohort in the Northern Part of Ethiopia

(1) Background: Postpartum weight may increase compared to pre-pregnancy due to weight retention or decrease due to weight loss. Both changes could pose deleterious effects on maternal health and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postpartum weight change and its associated factors. (2) Methods: A total of 585 women from the KIlte-Awlaelo Tigray Ethiopia (KITE) cohort were included in the analysis. (3) Results: The mean pre-pregnancy body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy were 19.7 kg/m² and 10.8 kg, respectively. At 18 to 24 months postpartum, the weight change ranged from −3.2 to 5.5 kg (mean = 0.42 kg [SD = 1.5]). In addition, 17.8% of women shifted to normal weight and 5.1% to underweight compared to the pre-pregnancy period. A unit increase in weight during pregnancy was associated with higher weight change (β = 0.56 kg, 95% CI [0.52, 0.60]) and increased probability to achieve normal weight (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.37, 2.00]). Food insecurity (AOR = 5.26, 95% CI [1.68, 16.50]), however, was associated with a shift to underweight postpartum. Interestingly, high symptoms of distress (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.03, 0.48]) also negatively impacted a change in weight category. (4) Conclusions: In low-income settings such as northern Ethiopia, higher weight gain and better mental health during pregnancy may help women achieve a better nutritional status after pregnancy and before a possible subsequent pregnancy.     

The Association of Gestational Weight Gain with Birth Weight in Obese Pregnant Women by Obesity Class and Diabetic Status: A Population-Based Historical Cohort Study

Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants are associated with increased adverse outcomes. While studies have estimated the association of gestational weight gain with birth weight in obese women, estimates are lacking by obesity class and diabetic status. A population-based historical cohort study of 66,010 obese pregnant women in Missouri delivering liveborn, singleton, term infants in 2002–2008 was conducted. Adjusted odds ratios for SGA and LGA infants were calculated for gestational weight gain categories with multiple logistic regression using the revised Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended 11–20 pounds as the reference group. A weight gain of 3–10 pounds was not significantly associated with an increased risk of an SGA infant compared to 11–20 pounds in 5/6 obesity class/diabetic status combinations. The exception was Class I Obese non-diabetic women (adjusted odds ratio = 1.28, 95 % confidence interval 1.07, 1.52). When lower amounts of weight gain were considered, diabetic women who gained ≤2 pounds (including women who lost weight) did not have a significantly increased risk of an SGA infant compared to diabetic women who gained 11–20 pounds in any obesity class. Weight gains less than 11–20 pounds were significantly associated with a decreased risk of an LGA infant in 5/6 obesity class/diabetic status combinations. Weight gains lower than the IOM recommendation of 11–20 pounds during pregnancy for obese women generally were significantly associated with decreased risk of LGA infants without being significantly associated with increased risk of SGA infants and differed by obesity class and diabetic status.     

Moderate and Vigorous Intensity Exercise During Pregnancy and Gestational Weight Gain in Women with Gestational Diabetes

Objectives To estimate the associations of moderate and vigorous intensity exercise during pregnancy with the rate of gestational weight gain (GWG) from gestational diabetes (GDM) diagnosis to delivery, overall and stratified by prepregnancy overweight/obesity. Methods Prospective cohort study with physical activity reported shortly after the GDM diagnosis and prepregnancy weight and post-diagnosis GWG obtained from electronic health records (n = 1055). Multinomial logistic regression models in the full cohort and stratified by prepregnancy overweight/obesity estimated associations of moderate and vigorous intensity exercise with GWG below and above the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) prepregnancy BMI-specific recommended ranges for weekly rate of GWG in the second and third trimesters. Results In the full cohort, any participation in vigorous intensity exercise was associated with decreased odds of GWG above recommended ranges as compared to no participation [odds ratio (95 % confidence interval): 0.63 (0.40, 0.99)], with a significant trend for decreasing odds of excess GWG with increasing level of vigorous intensity exercise. Upon stratification by prepregnancy overweight/obesity, significant associations were only observed for BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m²: any vigorous intensity exercise, as compared to none, was associated with 54 % decreased odds of excess GWG [0.46 (0.27, 0.79)] and significant trends were detected for decreasing odds of GWG both below and above the IOM’s recommended ranges with increasing level of vigorous exercise (both P ≤ 0.03). No associations were observed for moderate intensity exercise. Conclusions for Practice In women with GDM, particularly overweight and obese women, vigorous intensity exercise during pregnancy may reduce the odds of excess GWG.     

Depression among Low-Income Women of Color: Qualitative Findings from Cross-Cultural Focus Groups

This article describes the experiences with depression of women with young children living in ethnically and culturally diverse, low-income communities. A qualitative ethnographic design using a focus group process was implemented in 15 communities. Despite great diversity in ethnic and cultural backgrounds, these women of color reported similar experiences with depression and described: a range of social risk factors, including domestic violence, isolation, language barriers, and difficulties with schools and other public systems; lack of access to high quality, culturally competent health and mental health services; reliance primarily on informal systems of care--relatives, friends, peers--in dealing with their depression, although many also reported good relationships with primary care practitioners. They identified: the specialty mental health sector as one to which they seldom turned for assistance, citing stigma, lack of insurance coverage, cultural beliefs, and attitudes of providers as barriers; a number of strategies for outreach and engagement with mental health providers; qualitative measures of maternal depression among women with young children; and, strategies for reaching and engaging culturally diverse mothers.