182297 Factors affecting achievement of ideal weight gain during pregnancy -- Preliminary findings from 2007 Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) Project

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Yvonne Y. Lau, MPH, RD , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Shin Margaret Chao, PhD, MPH , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Chandra Higgins, MPH , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Karen M. Coller, PhD, MPH , Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Cynthia Harding, MPH , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Angie Denisse Otiniano, MPH , School of Public Health Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Eunice Muthengi, MPH, MSW , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Fathima Wakeel, PhD , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Michael C. Lu, MD, MPH , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Objective: Appropriate weight gain during pregnancy can improve birth outcomes. We examined risk factors and racial disparity associated with gaining ideal weight according to the 1990 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations.

Methods: LAMB is a biennial, population-based survey modeled after the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. IOM weight gain recommendation ranges from 15 to 40 lbs according to four body mass index (BMI) categories. Racial disparity in weight gain outside recommended ranges was examined using chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between prepregnancy BMI, medical advice on weight gain, and ideal weight gain, adjusting for race, age, education level and marital status.

Results: Preliminary data from the project are presented here. Among the 721 women who completed the survey, about one-third of the mothers achieved ideal weight gain, 40% of mothers had excessive weight gain, and 25% of mothers gained too little. Gaining excessive weight was more prevalent among White (45%, p<.05) and African American (47%, p<0.05) mothers, and mothers who are overweight and obese (50%, p<.05). Mothers who did not receive medical recommendations (OR=1.7, CI=1.1,2.6), or said to receive recommendations that were not ideal (OR=2.3, CI=1.5,3.8) were more likely to fall outside recommended range.

Conclusion: Only one in three women surveyed adhered to the ideal weight gain recommendations, and compliance varied among racial/ethnic populations. Efforts need to be made to include accurate weight gain recommendations in prenatal care visits, particularly for mothers with high body mass index.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the demographic and risk factors associated with weight gain during pregnancy falling outside recommended range. 2. Learn about racial/ethnic disparities of these risk factors. 3. Identify interventions strategies aimed at achieving ideal weight gain during pregnancy.

Keywords: Prenatal Care, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

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