Is there a relationship between sleep quality, dietary intake and weight gain in Turkish pregnant women?

Sleep quality, dietary intake, and body composition are known to change during pregnancy. This study aimed to examine the relationship between sleep quality, dietary intake and gestational weight gain in pregnant women.

This cross-sectional study was conducted between April and October 2023 in Istanbul, involving 214 healthy pregnant women aged 20-45 years who had no diagnosed medical conditions and were referred to a diet clinic by a physician. Sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements, and 3-day food diaries were collected, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered through a face-to-face questionnaire.

Of the participants, 56.5% reported poor sleep quality. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in those with poor sleep quality (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between gestational weight gain (r = 0.162, p = 0.017) and sleep disturbances. The PSQI score did not differ with gestational weight gain across trimesters (p > 0.05). Sleep quality did not vary with daily energy and macronutrient intake (p > 0.05). PSQI subscale analysis revealed that sleep disturbances in pregnant women were positively associated with energy (r = 0.137, p = 0.045), calcium (r = 0.147, p = 0.032), and copper (r = 0.139, p = 0.042) intake.

Sleep disturbances during pregnancy are positively associated with dietary intake and gestational weight gain. To prevent sleep disturbances, which are common in pregnant women, it is important to provide counseling on optimal weight gain and healthy nutrition starting from the preconception period.