International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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Dear Colleagues,

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a complex prenatal exposure that is a critical research focus because it is one of few modifiable behaviors during pregnancy. Low and high GWG, independent of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) status, are associated with adverse short- and long-term maternal and offspring health outcomes, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, small-for-gestational age, macrosomia, as well as maternal and offspring obesity. The influence of GWG on health outcomes likely varies by timing and rates of gain during the course of pregnancy. For example, greater GWG in early-to-mid pregnancy is associated with greater offspring fat mass and poor cardio-metabolic health indicators during childhood. However, gaps remain in the GWG literature regarding recommendations across different populations of women, the investigation of patterns of GWG throughout pregnancy, as well as prenatal management strategies.

This Special Issue seeks papers examining advances in our understanding of GWG including methods to measure and assess GWG; prenatal counseling and management of GWG during pregnancy; predictors of GWG, particularly psychosocial, dietary, and physical activity factors; and outcomes of GWG throughout the life course. The inclusion of ethnically, culturally, economically, and BMI- (i.e., women with underweight or obesity) diverse populations is highly encouraged. Epidemiological and interventional studies will be considered. High-quality narrative and systematic reviews will be also considered.

Prof. Andrea L. Deierlein
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Gestational weight gain;
Obesity;
Diet;
Physical activity;
Chronic disease;
Life course;
Prenatal.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk of Excess and Inadequate Gestational Weight Gain among Hispanic Women: Effects of Immigration Generational Status

by Sajeevika S. Daundasekara, Daniel P. O’Connor, Jodi Berger Cardoso, Tracey Ledoux and Daphne C. Hernandez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186452 - 4 Sep 2020

Viewed by 2086

Abstract

There is a dearth of information on the risk of inadequate and excess gestational weight gain (GWG) among different generations of Hispanic women in the United States. Therefore, the objective of this study was to understand the relationship of GWG and immigration across three generations of Hispanic women. The study was conducted using data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). The study sample included 580 (unweighted count) women (148 first-generation, 117 second-generation, and 315 third-/higher-generation). Sociodemographic and immigration data were extracted from the main NLSY79 survey, and pregnancy data were extracted from the child/young adult survey following the biological children born to women in NLSY79. Covariate adjusted weighted logistic regression models were conducted to assess the risk of inadequate and excess GWG among the groups. Average total GWG was 14.98 kg, 23% had inadequate GWG, and 50% had excess GWG. After controlling for the covariates, there was no difference in the risk of inadequate GWG between the three generations. First-generation women (OR = 0.47, p = 0.039) and third-/higher-generation women (OR = 0.39, p = 0.004) had significantly lower risk of excess GWG compared to second-generation women. It is important to recognize the generational status of Hispanic women as a risk factor for excess GWG. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Understanding Gestational Weight Gain)

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11 pages, 302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictors of Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Hispanic Population: Sociodemographic Characteristics, Health Behaviors, and Psychosocial Stressors

by Cara D. Dolin, Rachel S. Gross, Andrea L. Deierlein, Lauren T. Berube, Michelle Katzow, Yasaman Yaghoubian, Sara G. Brubaker and Mary Jo Messito

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(1), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010352 - 4 Jan 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3742

Abstract

Hispanic women have a higher prevalence of weight associated complications in pregnancy. This ethnic disparity is likely related to behavior patterns, social circumstances, environmental exposures, and access to healthcare, rather than biologic differences. The objective was to determine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychosocial stressors and gestational weight gain (GWG) in low-income Hispanic women. During pregnancy, information on sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychosocial stressors were collected. Linear regression estimated mean differences in GWG by selected predictors. Multinomial logistic regression estimated odds of inadequate and excessive GWG by selected predictors. Five-hundred and eight women were included, 38% had inadequate and 28% had excessive GWG; 57% with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI had inadequate GWG. Compared to women with normal BMI, women with overweight or obesity were more likely to have excessive GWG (aRRR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.40 and aRRR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.62, respectively). Mean total GWG was higher among women who were nulliparous (ß = 1.34 kg, 95% CI: 0.38, 2.29) and those who engaged in ≥3 h of screen time daily (ß = 0.98 kg, 95% CI: 0.02, 1.94), and lower among women who were physically active during pregnancy (ß = −1.00 kg, 95% CI: −1.99, −0.03). Eating breakfast daily was associated with lower risk of inadequate GWG (aRRR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.83). Depressive symptoms and poor adherence to dietary recommendations were prevalent, but none of the psychosocial or dietary variables were associated with GWG. In this cohort of primarily immigrant, low-income, Hispanic women, there were high rates of poor adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations, and a majority of women did not meet GWG guidelines. Modifiable health behaviors were associated with GWG, and their promotion should be included in prenatal care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Understanding Gestational Weight Gain)

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