Factors Associated With Inadequate Gestational Weight Gain: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Satoko Aoyama1, Megumi Haruna1, Kaori Yonezawa1

  • 1Department of Midwifery and Women's Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Nursing & Health Sciences
|February 6, 2025
PubMed

Inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with birth weight and premature birth and is a primary problem in Asia, particularly in Japan. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with inadequate GWG, focusing on women's target GWG and advised GWG by healthcare professionals. A questionnaire for women in their second trimester inquired about their target GWG and advice regarding GWG by healthcare professionals. Of the 626 participants, 52.6% were classified in the inadequate GWG group. Inadequate GWG was associated with a prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2 and weight below the prepregnancy weight in the second trimester. Among the multiparas, inadequate GWG was associated with an individual target GWG below the guideline, with no advice from healthcare professionals, and with an advised GWG below the guideline. Among the primiparas, there were no significant differences in the individual targets or advised GWG. Healthcare professionals must understand the latest guidelines regarding GWG and apply them when advising women. The importance of preconception care in achieving a BMI of at least 18.5 kg/m2 before pregnancy is also suggested.

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,...
852
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...
2.1K
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...
371
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
20.4K
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.3K