title: A comparison of maternal and paternal body mass index in early pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the body mass index (BMI) and the body composition of fathers-to-be and to compare the findings with those of mothers-to-be during early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive and comparative study based at a large university teaching hospital. We enrolled men whose partner booked for antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy during July 2009. The height and weight of both parents-to-be were measured digitally, and BMI was calculated. The body compositions of the couple were analysed using bioelectrical impedance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 167 fathers-to-be, 14% were obese (BMI > 29.9 kg/m2 ) compared with 16% of mothers-to-be (NS). However, 50% were overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2) ) compared with 26% of mothers-to-be (P < 0.001). This may be explained, in part, because the men were on average two years older than the women, and in the men, BMI increased with age. The men had a lower overall fat percentage (P < 0.001), but their visceral fat was higher than in the women (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show a high level of obesity in fathers-to-be, which has implications not only for the men themselves but also their families. We suggest that public health interventions directed at obesity during pregnancy should include both parents-to-be.
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Mairead
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kennelly
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First