Association between Body Image Profiles, Prepregnancy BMI, and Weight Gain during Pregnancy

During a normal pregnancy, the body undergoes several physiological adaptations, and a woman's body weight and size change rapidly over a short period of time. Pregnancy may be associated with increased susceptibility to developing body image dissatisfaction, which can have negative consequences for the mother (e.g., depression, eating disorders) and the child (e.g., childhood obesity). Women who were already overweight/obese prepregnancy appear to be particularly at risk, as they are often dissatisfied with their body image already before pregnancy. This study aims to investigate the relationship between prepregnancy overweight/obesity, gestational weight gain (GWG), and body image as assessed immediately after birth.

This is a cross-sectional observational study. Body image was assessed in healthy pregnant women (N = 197) using the German version of the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale (BIPS-G). Univariate analyses of variance and hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between prepregnancy weight, GWG, and the subscales of the BIPS-G. Additionally, a latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted.

Overall, women with prepregnancy obesity and GWG above recommendations were more dissatisfied with certain aspects of their body image during pregnancy. The strongest association was found between prepregnancy obesity and the subscale preoccupation with appearance. The LPA revealed three distinct profiles. Women with obesity and overweight and with GWG above recommendations were more likely to have a profile characterized by increased body image concerns during pregnancy.

It is important to implement psychological, behavioral, and weight-related interventions in women who are already overweight and obese prior to pregnancy.