Inadequate/excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes and only few studies have described patterns of weight gain in Indian women. Also, studies pertaining to dietary intake throughout gestation are insufficient. This prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate GWG and nutrient intake in all trimesters of pregnancy and investigate the relationship between themselves along with that of birth weight (BW). Our study was carried out in a population-based prospective birth cohort in Odisha, India. The 418 pregnant women were followed till delivery with measurements of maternal weight, weight gain throughout gestation, and BW. Macronutrients were assessed based on a 24-hour dietary recall method in each trimester. Women characterized by under-weight pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) were 16.20%, and a total of 6.45% did not comply with current weight gain recommendations. Particularly, overweight and obese women gained more weight than recommended. In a multivariate analysis GWG correlated significantly with BMI (p = 0.03), total calorie intake (p < 0.001) and fat intake (p < 0.001), while BW of newborns correlated significantly with adequacy of weight gain and fat intake (p < 0.001). Though measures are taken by health workers to record the weight but nutritional counseling is not being provided regularly. A high priority should be given to increase awareness among general population regarding the importance of diet in pregnancy and how to adhere to the balanced diet for optimal growth of child.
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This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake on birth size in the north-east part of Iran. Maternal information including BMI and dietary intake from 453 healthy pregnant women were collected in 2013–2014. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI were obtained from health records and dietary intakes in third trimester were collected by using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which consisted of 160 Iranian foods. Anthropometric measurements of neonates including weight, height, and head circumference were 3.19 ± 0.49 kg, 50.24 ± 2.1 cm, and 34.61 ± 1.5 cm, respectively. A significant difference was found in neonatal birth weight (p < 0.001) and head circumference (p = 0.002) between underweight and obese mothers. Furthermore, maternal intake of fat had a direct correlation with birth size. There was a positive relationship between vitamin A and potassium intake and birth height. The article concludes that normal maternal pre-pregnancy weight and appropriate diet are likely essential for healthy babies.
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Maternal nutritional status during pregnancy will affect the outcomes for the mother and the newborn. Maternal diet was assessed in 150 pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy by a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were explored by Factor analysis, and association of patterns with maternal and neonatal outcomes such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), anemia and anthropometric indices were determined by analysis of variance and linear regression analysis. Three major dietary patterns were identified: 1) High Carbohydrate-Lower Fat (mean age, 27.67 ± 6.1; n = 34), 2) High Carbohydrate-Higher Fat (27.70 ± 4.1; n = 55), and 3) High Fiber (29.27 ± 5.8; n = 61). A significant difference was observed between maternal dietary patterns (p < 0.01) for GDM, while it was not significant for anemia. Also, the number of preterm and low birth weight (LBM) infants as well as mean weight, height and head circumference of the infants did not differ significantly between patterns, but there was a significant difference between the maternal dietary patterns about the number of macrosomic babies, which was higher in the second (n = 9) and third (n = 9) dietary patterns (p < 0.01). After adjusting for mothers' age, disease history, disease status, and energy intake, High Carbohydrate-Lower Fat dietary pattern was more associated with GDM than crude model (p = 0.01 vs. p = 0.02). The present study indicated a significant relationship between maternal dietary patterns before pregnancy and GDM and fetal macrosomia.
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Development of Obesity: The Driver and the Passenger