Trends in Maternal Weight Disparities: Statewide Differences in Rural and Urban Minnesota Residents From 2012 to 2019
Rebecca L Emery Tavernier1, Marcia B McCoy2, Catherine A McCarty1
1Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota.
Summary
Rural individuals face higher risks of prepregnancy overweight/obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) compared to urban populations. These disparities are widening over time, highlighting a critical need for targeted interventions in rural communities.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Substantial weight disparities exist between rural and urban populations.
- Limited research has investigated differences in prepregnancy weight status and gestational weight gain (GWG) between rural and urban birthing individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the prevalence of prepregnancy overweight/obesity and excessive GWG in rural versus urban birthing individuals.
- To examine changes in these disparities over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized birth certificate data from 465,709 individuals who gave birth in Minnesota (2012-2019).
- Employed regression models to estimate risk differences in prepregnancy weight status and excessive GWG between rural and urban populations, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Rural individuals had a significantly higher risk of prepregnancy overweight or obesity (4.9 pp) and excessive GWG (2.6 pp) compared to urban individuals.
- Disparities in prepregnancy weight status and excessive GWG between rural and urban populations widened between 2012 and 2019.
Conclusions:
- Findings confirm significant perinatal health disparities between rural and urban populations.
- Emphasizes the necessity for targeted prevention and treatment strategies to address weight-related health issues in rural communities.
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