Weight Gain during Pregnancy in Women Attending a Health Center in Isfahan City, Iran

BACKGROUND Body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and weight gaining during pregnancy affect infant birth weight and are associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to describe the weight gain pattern of Iranian pregnant women according to the BMI status at the beginning of pregnancy. METHODS This was a longitudinal cross sectional study. A total of 500 pregnant women in 6th-10th weeks of pregnancy were enrolled and followed up through delivery. Body mass index categories based on first visit weight and total weight gain were calculated. The multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to compare the mean values of gestational weight gain. RESULTS At the first care, those with underweight, normal, overweight and obese accounted for 10.7%, 46%, 35.9% and 7.4% of all participating women, respectively. Most of the subjects were in normal range of BMI (46%) at the beginning of the study. As BMI was more at the first visit, the recommended amount of weight gain was less achievable (70% versus 27%). Although the average weight gain in obese women was less than other groups (9±7.9), about 55% of them were over the recommended standards of weight gain. CONCLUSION In conclusion, in spite of frequent visits during pregnancy, only half of pregnant women had normal weight gain and most of them had normal BMI at the first visit. This study highlights the importance of considering women with abnormal pre pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain at an increased risk and providing appropriate care for them to prevent future adverse outcomes.