Pregestational body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy associated with epidemiological variables and...

To correlate the pregestational Body Mass Index and weight gain during pregnancy with various epidemiological variables.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in a third level hospital in Cali, Colombia. Socioeconomic and anthropometric data, obstetric history and general medical history was collected from 300 pregnant women aged between 18 and 37. BMI was calculated at the beginning and end of pregnancy. Statistical analysis of multiple linear regression was performed.

An increased BMI at the beginning and end of gestation positively correlated with age (Coefficient = 0.156; p=0.013, Coefficient = 0.153; p=0.011), diagnosis of gestational diabetes (Coefficient = 2.264, p=0.018, Coefficient = 0.153; p=0.011) and concern about weight gain during pregnancy (Coefficient = 1.226; p=0.038, Coefficient = 1.568; p=0.004). A low BMI correlated negatively with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (Coefficient = -3.208; p=0.005). Furthermore, a higher final BMI positively correlated with a diagnosis of hypertensive disorder (Coefficient = 2.733; p<0.001) and negatively with socioeconomic status (Coefficient = 2.239; p=0.045).

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. While pregnancy is a critical period in a woman's life which may motivate positive lifestyle changes, excessive weight gain is still not perceived as a health problem.