Association of maternal dietary patterns in early pregnancy with gestational weight gain: Yazd Birth Cohort

Abnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) can carry risks for both the mother and the baby. Diet imbalances are the determining factor in the weight gain of pregnant women.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between nutritional patterns and the weight of pregnant mothers living in Yazd, Iran from 2021-2022.

In this cohort study, data from 1497 pregnant women aged 18-45 yr with singleton pregnancy who completed the food frequency questionnaire in the Yazd Birth Cohort Study were extracted. This data included demographic variables, GWG (difference between initial weight at 13-15 wk and 1 wk before the expected delivery date), and food intake information before the 13 $$ wk of pregnancy. The women were categorized into 3 groups based on GWG: inadequate, normal, and excessive. Dietary patterns were extracted from the food frequency questionnaire using principal component analysis, and multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and GWG categories.

According to the frequency of food consumption, 3 dietary patterns were obtained: the traditional pattern (cabbage vegetables, fruits, and dried fruits), the unhealthy pattern (processed meats and sweetened drinks), and the vegetable/fruit/olive pattern. The analysis results showed that pregnant women who followed the fruit/vegetable/olive pattern had a lower chance of insufficient weight gain during pregnancy (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45-0.98).

Consuming various fruits and vegetables can help regulate GWG in the population of pregnant women lived in Yazd, Iran. Diet can be considered one of the most effective and safe interventions.