Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(03): 272-280
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715529
Original Article

Factors Associated with Appropriate Gestational Weight Gain among Women with Obesity

Gabriella D. Cozzi
1   Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Christina T. Blanchard
1   Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
1   Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Allison Todd
3   Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Margaret Davis
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
3   Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Paula Chandler-Laney
3   Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Krista Casazza
3   Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
4   Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Brian M. Casey
1   Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Alan T. Tita
1   Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Jeff M. Szychowski
1   Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
5   Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Akila Subramaniam
1   Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
› Author Affiliations
Funding This research was funded, in part, by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It had no role in the study design, collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the article for publication.
This publication was made possible by Grant 1D1CMS331145 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the US Department of Health and Human Services or any of its agencies. The research presented here was conducted by the awardee. Findings might or might not be consistent with or confirmed by the findings of the independent evaluation contractor.
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to compare attendance of nutritional counseling, dietary composition, exercise patterns, and socioeconomic factors among obese women with inappropriate gestational weight gain (iGWG) versus appropriate GWG (aGWG).

Study Design Medicaid-eligible women receiving prenatal care at a tertiary care center from January 2013 to December 2015 were offered individualized nutritional counseling by a registered dietitian encouraging well-balanced meals and 150 min/wk of exercise. We conducted a prospective case–control study of obese women (body mass index or BMI ≥30) with a singleton gestation with iGWG (<11 or >20 pounds) versus aGWG (11–20 pounds). Dietary intake, activity level, and socioeconomic factors were compared with Chi-square, Fisher's exact, Student's t-test, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests as indicated, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Multivariate regression analysis for significant variables was performed. A subgroup analysis of women with BMI ≥40 was planned.

Results A total of 401 women were analyzed: 78% (n = 313) with iGWG and 22% (n = 88) with aGWG. Demographics were similar between groups. Women with iGWG less frequently reported physician reinforcement of counseling and reported more physical inactivity and unemployment; there were no differences in caloric intake or macronutrient profile between groups. Multivariate regression identified physician reinforcement and employment as independent predictors of aGWG. Among women with BMI ≥40 (n = 133), those with iGWG (78%) were less likely to attend counseling, report physician reinforcement of counseling, and have adequate caloric and protein intake when compared with those with aGWG (22%). Activity level and socioeconomic factors were not different between groups.

Conclusion Physician reinforcement of nutritional counseling, greater activity level, and employment are associated with aGWG in women with BMI ≥30, while individualized professional nutritional counseling and dietary modifications were further associated with aGWG in women with BMI ≥40. Thus, greater focus should be placed on enhancing exposure to counseling and altering nutritional and exercise choices to optimize aGWG.

Key Points

  • Physician reinforcement of nutritional counseling by a dietitian is crucial for obese women.

  • Physical inactivity and unemployment are associated with inappropriate gestational weight gain.

  • Nutritional counseling is associated with appropriate gestational weight gain in women with BMI ≥40.

Note

This study was presented as a poster (#748) at the 40th Annual Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Meeting in Grapevine, TX, February 3 to 8, 2020.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 24 April 2020

Accepted: 07 July 2020

Article published online:
27 August 2020

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