Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2025

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

11.7K

Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Risk of Preterm Birth: The Role of Weight Gain during Pregnancy, Race, and

Wendemi Sawadogo1,2, Medhin Tsegaye2, Andinet Gizaw2

  • 1Department of Public Health, College of Human and Health Services, Southern Connecticut State University, new Haven, Connecticut.

American Journal of Perinatology
|December 2, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maternal underweight prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) increases preterm birth risk across all groups. High prepregnancy BMI

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Public Health
  • Perinatal Epidemiology

Background:

  • Preterm birth (PTB) is a major cause of infant mortality.
  • Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is linked to PTB, but associations by gestational weight gain, race, and ethnicity require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between maternal prepregnancy BMI and PTB.
  • To stratify these associations by gestational weight gain, race, and ethnicity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized U.S. natality data from 2017-2021 for singleton live births.
  • Employed logistic regression to analyze associations between prepregnancy BMI categories and PTB, controlling for confounders.
  • Stratified analyses by gestational weight gain, race, and ethnicity.

Main Results:

  • A total of 17,311,509 births were analyzed, with 8.05% being PTBs.
  • Underweight prepregnancy BMI (<18.5) was associated with increased PTB odds irrespective of weight gain, race, or ethnicity.
  • High prepregnancy BMI (≥25) showed varied PTB associations based on weight gain, race, and ethnicity. Notably, Asian mothers with obesity II (35.0-39.9) had higher PTB odds with 31-40 lbs gain compared to White, Hispanic, and Black counterparts.

Conclusions:

  • Low prepregnancy BMI is a consistent risk factor for PTB.
  • The impact of high prepregnancy BMI on PTB risk is modulated by gestational weight gain, race, and ethnicity.
  • Findings highlight the need for tailored interventions considering maternal BMI, weight gain, and demographic factors.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

515
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?08:49

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?

Published on: June 6, 2020

14.4K

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
866
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
2.2K
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
374
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
Bulimia Nervosa01:30

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
46
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
43