Pregnancy Weight Gain and Body Mass Index
Author Information
Author(s): Jenniffer A. Castellanos-Garzón, Liliana Salazar-Monsalve, Antonio J. Tascon, María C. Pustovrh-Ramos
Primary Institution: Universidad del Valle
Hypothesis
To correlate the pregestational Body Mass Index and weight gain during pregnancy with various epidemiological variables.
Conclusion
Excessive weight gain before and during pregnancy is a predictive factor in the appearance of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders, differentially affecting women from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Supporting Evidence
- 44% of pregnant women started their pregnancy within a normal BMI range.
- 30.3% of participants were overweight and 21% were obese.
- An increased BMI at the beginning of pregnancy correlated positively with maternal age and gestational diabetes.
- A lower BMI was associated with intrauterine growth restriction.
- Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is linked to higher risks of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders.
Takeaway
Gaining too much weight before and during pregnancy can lead to health problems for both the mother and baby, especially for women who are less wealthy.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 pregnant women aged 18-37, collecting socioeconomic, anthropometric, obstetric, and medical history data, followed by multiple linear regression analysis.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias in the assessment of weight gain concerns.
Limitations
The study did not examine the long-term effects of maternal obesity on offspring health.
Participant Demographics
Participants were women aged 18-37, with a mean age of 26 years, from various socioeconomic backgrounds in Cali, Colombia.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.013, p=0.011, p=0.018, p=0.038, p=0.005, p<0.001, p=0.045
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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