Abstract
The difference was investigated of pre-pregnancy food choice and dietary behavior between women who deliver a low birth weight (LBW) baby and those who deliver a normal birth weight (NBW) baby. Data were collected from surveys of food frequency and food behavior, as well as infant birth weight. There was no statistically significant difference between the two populations in the average pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), although more women with LBW babies had a BMI<19.5 than women with NBW babies. Food frequency data showed that the women from both groups generally had a low energy, protein, calcium, and iron intake. The results of an attribution analysis show that the LBW subjects extensively used prepared food from convenience stores and supermarkets, did not mind eating out all the time, often ate junk food, and had dieted to lose weight. The results of this study are relevant to education that will help young Japanese women to develop a healthy lifestyle and food behavior and to deliver normal birth weight babies.
