Weight and body composition changes during pregnancy in Barbadian women - abstract

ABSTRACT

Weight gains occur during normal pregnancy in women with free access to food. Maternal nutrition status prior to conception and during pregnancy is a critical determinant of foetal growth and pregnancy outcomes. These gains reflect changes in the composition of the maternal body as well as changes in the products of conception. There are limited data from the West Indies about maternal nutritional status during pregnancy as well as the factors determining changes in body composition and pregnancy weight gain. We report the results of a prospective study of 342 pregnant Barbadian women conducted between August 1994 and February 1996 which assessed nutritional changes during pregnancy and their impact on glucose metabolism. This report is, however, limited to the changes observed in nutritional indices. At registration, age and parity were strongly analysed demonstrated that change in weight between registration (at a median time of 15 weeks gestation) and 36 weeks gestation and postpartum, were independently and inversely associated with BMI and age. Parity was not found to be independently associated with weight change. Changes in body composition were examined by deriving estimates of fat and lean mass. Estimated fat mass gains were consistent with those reported from well-nourished Western societies, and were mainly determined by initial BMI. We also observed gains in lean mass as a consequence of pregnancy. (AU)