title: The Relation between Early Pregnancy Anthropometric Indices among Primiparous Women and Macrosomia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of obesity is increasing in both developed and developing nations. Body mass index (BMI) is the most common index for obesity assessment and its relation with most complications among non-pregnant and pregnant women is known. However, no study has evaluated the relation between abdominal obesity and macrosomia among pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, anthropometric indices including weight, height, and waist circumference (WC) of 1140 nulliparous pregnant women during their first trimester of pregnancy (6(th)-10(th) weeks) were measured by the researcher. According to the classification of the World Health Organization, women with BMI > 25 kg/m(2) were considered as overweight or obese. Abdominal obesity was defined as WC ≥ 88 cm. Finally, mothers were followed up and fetal macrosomia was recorded in a checklist. Data was analyzed in SPSS15.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 77.5% of women aged 20-35 years and 92.7% were housewives. The mean (SD) values of BMI and WC were 24.32 (4.08) kg/m(2) and 81.84 (9.25) cm, respectively. The prevalence of overweight (BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI > 29.9 kg/m) was 27.6% and 8.8%, respectively. Abdominal obesity based on WC was found in 34.8% of the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study revealed obesity in over one third of nulliparous pregnant women during their first trimester. Moreover, the high prevalence of macrosomia, in these women confirmed the importance of maternal education about obesity-related complications in order to change their lifestyle and prevent obesity.
authors.affiliation: PhD Student of Reproductive Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran And Lecturer, Department of Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Esmat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mehrabi
authors.affiliation: MSc, Instructor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamalifard
authors.affiliation: MSc, Instructor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yavarikia
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrangiz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi Mameghani
keywords: Body mass index; Macrosomia; Pregnancy; Waist circumference