Pre-Pregnancy leisure activity, dietary patterns and first trimester pregnancy body mass index

The prevalence of overweight/obesity among pregnant women is rising. Both can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 92 pregnant women enrolled in the Parity, Inflammation, and Diabetes Study, which examines maternal physiologic characteristics and risk of gestational diabetes. Our objective was to determine the relationship between pre-pregnancy leisure activity, dietary intake and first trimester body mass index (BMI). Pre-pregnancy leisure activity was assessed using the Baecke questionnaire, a self rating of leisure activity ranging from 1 (low) to 5 (high). Pre-pregnancy dietary intake was determined using the Block questionnaire. We used multiple linear regression to estimate the effect of leisure activity and dietary intake on first trimester BMI. The study sample was 49% white and 29% black. Mean age was 31.2 ± 5.3 (yrs). Mean pre-pregnancy and first trimester BMI were 26.8 ± 7.3 kg/m2 and 27.7 ± 7.0 kg/m2, respectively. Mean BMI in the first trimester was 0.86 kg/ m2 higher compared to pre-pregnancy BMI (P-value <0.05). Average daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was 4.8±1.6.The average leisure activity score was 2.6 ±0.6. We observed a statistically significant inverse relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and first trimester BMI (Regression Coefficient -0.90; 95% Confidence Interval-1.72, -0.08), after adjustment for age, race and parity. In this diverse sample of women, pre-pregnancy daily fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with first trimester BMI. These findings may inform pre-conceptional counseling of lifestyle modifications and research on pregnancy and the subsequent propensity for being overweight or obese.