Trajectory Patterns of Gestational Weight Gain

Abstract

Objective

To identify gestational weight gain trajectories and their association with demographic, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics.

Method

Information of 599 pregnant women undergoing prenatal care in public health units was collected through questionnaires and medical records, resulting in 4,272 measures of body weight. Group-based trajectory models were applied to identify patterns of gestational weight gain.

Results

The average gestational weight gain at 40 weeks was 14.1 kg (95%CI: 13.2, 15.0). Three different trajectory groups were identified: low (9.9%), intermediate (66.4%), and high (23.7%). Pregnant women who smoked and those classified above IOM’s weight gain recommendations were more likely to be classified in the group with a high weight gain trajectory; while those with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, and with greater parity were more likely to be categorized in the low weight gain trajectory. After adjusting for other variables in the model, parity remained significantly associated with gestational weight gain (β: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.27, 0.73). In the multilevel model, weight gain remained different among the categories of group-based trajectory, even after adjustment for other investigated variables for intermediate (β: 2.94; 95%CI: 2.32, 3.58) and high (β: 5.88; 95%CI: 5.09, 6.66) gestational weight gain trajectory groups.

Conclusions

Behavioral, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics determined the belonging to groups with a high or low trajectory of gestational weight gain. The findings contribute to a better understanding of patterns of gestational weight gain in middle-income women groups.

Keywords:

• Weight gain
• pregnancy
• longitudinal studies
• multilevel analysis
• group-based trajectory
• obesity
• overweight

Authors’ contribution

Fernanda Manera contributed to Conceptualization; Methodology; Writing; Data Curation; Supervision; Editing. Renata Cordeiro Fernandes contributed to Conceptualization; Methodology; Writing; Data Curation; Supervision; Editing. Doroteia Aparecida Höfelmann contributed to Conceptualization; Methodology; Formal Analysis; Writing, Visualization, Project administration; Editing. All authors made substantial contributions to all the following: (1) the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, (3) final approval of the version to be submitted.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was carried out with the support of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – Brazil (CAPES) –Financing Code 001 for the Graduate Program in Food and Nutrition (PPGAN/UFPR).