Recorded presentation

Terry J. Rosenberg, PhD, Research and Evaluation Unit, Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., 40 Worth Street, Suite 720, New York, NY 10013, 212-285-0220, trosenberg@mhra.org, Samantha Garbers, MPA, Research & Evaluation, Medical & Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., 40 Worth Street, Suite 720, New York, NY 10013, and Mary Ann Chiasson, DrPH, Research and Evaluation Unit, Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, 40 Worth Street Suite 720, New York, NY 10013.

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal events and overweight/obesity in subsequent years. This paper examines risk factors related to excessive weight gain among 330,216 women with singleton births in New York City from 1999-2001. IOM recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy depend on a woman's prepregnancy BMI, with 40 pounds as the highest recommended gain. For all women studied, we defined 41 pounds or more as excessive weigh gain: fully 18.4% (60,695) gained this amount. Bivariate analyses revealed that the adolescent women and women who had no prior births were the most likely to gain more than 40 pounds. A quarter of the women under 18 and 24.2% of women 18-19 gained more than 40 pounds during their pregnancies. A logistic regression for all women predicting excessive weight gain revealed that adolescents, Blacks and Latinas, unmarried women, women of low parity, women with a social risk (e.g. substance abuse), and those with no prenatal care were most likely to gain excessive weight. In a regression for women under 20 (11-19 years old) the factors significantly contributing to excessive weight gain were being unmarried, having a social risk, and weighing between 150-299 pounds prepregnancy. Adolescent mothers, unmarried mothers, first time mothers, and mothers who smoked, drank, or used illegal substances during pregnancy were at greatest risk of excessive weight gain. These women may have had limited social supports while pregnant, and required more assistance from providers to follow healthy nutritional and physical activity guidelines.

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn from this paper

(
• That adolescence is a risk factors contributing to excessive weight gain during pregnancy; (
• Other risk factors also contribute to excessive weight gain for these young women and other women; (
• Recommendations for focused interventions to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation