Study protocol: The cross-sectional Uppsala weight gain in pregnancy study (VIGA study)

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Over two-fifths of Swedish women are overweight or obese pre-pregnancy.
• Maternal overweight/obesity and excessive gestational weight gain are linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• Mechanisms connecting maternal adiposity, diet, exercise, and pregnancy outcomes are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate associations between maternal weight, diet, exercise, gestational weight gain, and pregnancy outcomes.
• To provide a resource for further research into these relationships.
• To explore underlying biological mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design involving pregnant women at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
• Data collection via questionnaires on diet and exercise habits.
• Collection of maternal blood, adipose tissue biopsies, and placental tissue during elective cesarean sections.
• Pregnancy outcomes and maternal characteristics extracted from medical records.

Main Results:

• 143 women were included; 46.2% had pre-pregnancy BMI > 25 kg/m².
• 11.2% of neonates were large for gestational age (LGA).
• Complete data and biological samples were obtained from 81.1% of participants.

Conclusions:

• The study established a valuable resource for exploring maternal health factors and pregnancy outcomes.
• Results are intended for publication in peer-reviewed international scientific journals.
• Ethical approvals were obtained from relevant Swedish authorities.