Pnm-28: Longitudinal Changes of Maternal Anthropometric Indices: A Cohort Study in Women during Pregnancy and Postpartum

Background: Evaluation of fat distribution is a way to assessment of physical health. Waist to Hip Ratio and waist circumference are the simplest anthropometric measurements to be used to determine the obesity and related disorders in pregnancy. Today a close consideration is given to WHR and WC assessment in order to evaluate physical health in epidemiological studies. Materials and Methods: One thousand pregnant women with singleton pregnancies receiving prenatal care in the Health Medical Centers of Kashan University of Medical Sciences participated in this study and followed prospectively after delivery. Waist and hip circumference were measured at first antenatal visit (≤ 12 weeks of gestational age), 28-32 weeks of pregnancy and in post-partum (6 weeks after delivery). All result analyzed by using SPSS. Results: Results indicated that the mean, median and standard deviation of women WC in 12 weeks of gestational age were 80, 79, 10.31 cm; in 28-32 week were 92.6, 92, 11.5 cm and in postpartum were 83.6, 83, 10.87 cm respectively. Also the mean, median and standard deviation of women WHR in 12 weeks of gestational age were 0.79, 0.78, 0.61; in 28-32 weeks were 0.85, 0.84, 0.82 and in postpartum were 0.80, 0.80, 0.67 respectively. Conclusion: Although changes of anthropometric indices were acceptable in pregnancy and decrease of these indices were observed 6 week after delivery to state before 12 weeks of gestation. Therefore, physical activity and exercise recommended accelerating this reduction of fat distribution.