Preconception predictors of weight gain during pregnancy: prospective findings from the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined preconception (prepregnancy) predictors of pregnancy weight gain and weight gain that exceeds the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations based on pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), in a prospective study.


METHODS
Data are from a population-based cohort study of 1,420 women who were interviewed at baseline and 2 years later. The analytic sample includes 103 women who were not pregnant at baseline and gave birth to full-term singletons during the follow-up period. Preconception maternal weight category as well as health behaviors, psychosocial stress, parity, and age were examined as predictors of pregnancy weight gain and of weight gain in excess of the IOM recommendations using multiple linear and logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Pregnancy weight gain averaged 33.01 pounds, with 51% of women gaining weight in excess of the 2009 IOM recommendations for their preconception weight category. Preconception overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) increased the odds of excessive pregnancy weight gain nearly threefold, whereas preconception physical activity levels meeting activity guidelines reduced the odds of excessive weight gain but was marginally statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Although future research examining the role of physical activity in relation to pregnancy weight gain is needed, preconception overweight and physical activity levels are prime targets for interventions to avoid excessive pregnancy weight gain.
Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. cweisman@psu.edu
Carol S
CS
Weisman
Marianne M
MM
Hillemeier
Danielle Symons
DS
Downs
Cynthia H
CH
Chuang
Anne-Marie
AM
Dyer
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult