Characteristics of dietary behavior in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain

Abstract

Purpose

Knowing the dietary behavior for obese women and those with excessive weight gain during pregnancy may facilitate better gestational weight management. We aimed to determine the dietary behavior characteristics of pregnant women with pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain.

Methods

Following term singleton deliveries, 238 mothers completed a 24-item dietary behavior questionnaire (DBQ) to identify causes of excessive weight gain during pregnancy concerning misperceptions and regrets concerning weight gain, eating quickly without chewing well, uneven taste preferences when eating out or at restaurants, worries about running out of food, worries about running out of fruit and vegetables, eating fruit and sweets when available, and reluctance to leaving food on their plate. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was divided into thin, normal, moderately overweight, and severely overweight categories. Using Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology Weight Gain Guidelines, weight gain during pregnancy was classified as exceeding recommended or within recommended limits. Student's t-, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple comparison tests were used to determine associations between each group and the DBQ scores.

Results

Of 218 (99.0%) valid responses, women with class 1 and 2 obesity scored significantly higher than women in thin and normal weight groups regarding misperceptions and regrets concerning weight gain and reluctance to leave food on their plate (class 1 obese vs. thin group, p < 0.01; class 2 obese vs. thin group, p < 0.01). Women with class 2 obesity scored significantly higher than the other groups in eating quickly without chewing well and uneven taste preferences when eating out or at restaurants, respectively (p < 0.01). In the exceeding recommended weight gain group, scores were significantly higher for misperceptions and regrets concerning weight gain and reluctance to leave food on their plate (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

The eating behavior characteristics of pregnant women with obesity or excessive weight gain have been clarified. Pregnant women with class 2 obesity tend to eat quickly without chewing thoroughly and show a preference for certain tastes. These findings suggest that assessing eating behavior during pregnancy could lead to better guidance on appropriate weight gain.