title: Adjusting to motherhood. The importance of BMI in predicting maternal well-being, eating behaviour and feeding practice within a cross cultural setting.
abstract: Maternal body mass index (BMI) is associated with negative body image and restrained eating which are experienced differently across cultures. The present study aimed to: 1) examine if self-esteem, eating behaviours and body satisfaction changed from early pregnancy to 2-6 months after giving birth; 2) explore changes according to country (Israel vs. UK) and BMI; and 3) determine any relationship between these measurements and infant feeding. Participants completed questionnaires assessing self-esteem, body image and eating/feeding behaviours. Multilevel linear modelling was used to account for change and to assess the independent impact of BMI on outcomes. Seventy-three women and infants participated in the study in early pregnancy and again 16 (9) weeks following birth. Women gained 1.5 kg (range -12 + 23) and UK mothers reported significantly greater body dissatisfaction, but self-esteem and eating behaviours remained stable. BMI was the main predictor of self-esteem, eating behaviours and body satisfaction. Mothers' perceptions of infant's eating did not vary according to BMI or country; however, heavier mothers reported feeding their infants according to a schedule. The first months after giving birth are a key time to assess adjustment to motherhood but later assessments are necessary in order to track changes beyond the early period post-pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. Electronic address: N.Shloim10@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Netalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shloim
authors.affiliation: Leeds PCT & Paediatric Epidemiology Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds University, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Leeds Institute for Genetics Health and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feltbower
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hetherington
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007557:Israel; D016014:Linear Models; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body image; Eating/feeding behaviours; Postnatal; Pregnancy; Self-esteem