Correlates of absolute and excessive weight gain during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Factors associated with weight gain during pregnancy that may be linked to maternal overweight and obesity were examined.


METHODS
In this observational study, 144 women reported on demographics, (prepregnancy) body weight, and lifestyles in self-reported questionnaires at 30 weeks gestation. Body weight at the end of pregnancy (self-reported at 6 weeks postpartum) was used to determine total gestational weight gain. Multivariate prediction models were developed to identify factors associated with total gestational weight gain and excessive gestational weight gain (i.e., higher weight gain than recommended by the Institute of Medicine).


RESULTS
Women gained 14.4 (+/-5.0) kg during pregnancy. Obese women gained almost 4 kg less than normal weight women. Pregnant women judging themselves to be less physically active or women who reported increased food intakes during pregnancy gained significantly more weight. Over one third of women (38%) gained more weight than recommended. Being overweight, judging yourself to be less physically active than others, and a perceived elevated food intake during pregnancy were significantly associated with excessive weight gain (odds ratio [OR] = 6.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01-19.32; OR = 3.96, 95% CI: 1.55l, 10.15; and OR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.18, 8.36, respectively). A higher age at menarche and hours of sleep reduced the odds for excessive weight gain (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.99; and OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.93, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Mean hours of sleep, perceived physical activity, and measures of food intake at 30 weeks gestation were identified as modifiable behavioral correlates for excessive gestational weight gain. Strategies to optimize gestational weight gain need to be explored, with a focus on the identified factors.
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute, Vrije Universiteit (VU) University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ellen
E
Althuizen
Mireille N M
MN
van Poppel
Jacob C
JC
Seidell
Willem
W
van Mechelen
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult