Prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, and birth weight in the BRISA cohort

Author(s)

Raina Jansen Cutrim Propp Lima ^[1] ; Rosângela Fernandes Lucena Batista ^[2] ; Marizélia Rodrigues Costa Ribeiro ^[3] ; Cecília Cláudia Costa Ribeiro ^[4] ; Vanda Maria Ferreira Simões ^[5] ; Pedro Martins Lima Neto ^[6] ; Antônio Augusto Moura da Silva ^[7] ; Heloisa Bettiol ^[8]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Fed Educ Ciencia & Tecnol Maranhao, Dept Ensino, Campus Acailandia, Acailandia, MA - Brazil

^[2] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Medicina III - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Odontologia II - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[6] Univ Fed Maranhao, Ctr Ciencias Sociais Saude & Tecnol, Imperatriz, MA - Brazil

^[7] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[8] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Puericultura & Pediat, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista de Saúde Pública; v. 52, 2018-05-03.

Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the effects of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy on the baby's birth weight. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study with 5,024 mothers and their newborns using a Brazilian birth cohort study. In the proposed model, estimated by structural equation modeling, we tested socioeconomic status, age, marital status, pre-pregnancy body mass index, smoking habit and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, hypertension and gestational diabetes, gestational weight gain, and type of delivery as determinants of the baby's birth weight. RESULTS For a gain of 4 kg/m2 (1 Standard Deviation [SD]) in pre-pregnancy body mass index, there was a 0.126 SD increase in birth weight, corresponding to 68 grams (p < 0.001). A 6 kg increase (1 SD) in gestational weight gain represented a 0.280 SD increase in newborn weight, correponding to 151.2 grams (p < 0.001). The positive effect of pre-pregnancy body mass index on birth weight was direct (standardized coefficient [SC] = 0.202; p < 0.001), but the negative indirect effect was small (SC = -0.076, p < 0.001) and partially mediated by the lower weight gain during pregnancy (SC = -0.070, p < 0.001). The positive effect of weight gain during pregnany on birth weight was predominantly direct (SC = 0.269, p < 0.001), with a small indirect effect of cesarean delivery (SC = 0.011; p < 0.001). Women with a higher pre-pregnancy body mass index gained less weight during pregnancy (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The effect of gestational weight gain on the increase in birth weight was greater than that of pre-pregnancy body mass index. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/53593-0 - Etiological factors of preterm birth and consequences of perinatal factors in child health: birth cohorts in two Brazilian cities (BRISA project)
• Grantee: Marco Antonio Barbieri
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants