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. 2017 Jun 2;12(6):e0177418.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177418. eCollection 2017.

The mutual effect of pre-pregnancy body mass index, waist circumference and gestational weight gain on obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes: A birth cohort study

Affiliations

The mutual effect of pre-pregnancy body mass index, waist circumference and gestational weight gain on obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes: A birth cohort study

Xiao Gao et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the mutual effect of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: This birth cohort study was conducted in three Streets in Changsha, China, including a total of 976 mother-child pairs. All data was collected within 15 days after deliveries from a self-administered questionnaire, maternal health manual and perinatal health care information system. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the effects of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, WC and GWG on obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), primary cesarean section (P-CS), large for gestational age (LGA) and composite outcome (one or more adverse pregnancy outcomes).

Results: After controlling for all confounders, both maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and central adiposity contributed to increased risks of GDM [ORs 95% CIs = 2.19 (1.02-4.76) and 2.26 (1.11-4.60), respectively], P-CS [ORs 95% CIs = 1.66 (1.05-2.65) and 1.71 (1.11-2.63), respectively], LGA [ORs 95% CIs = 1.93 (1.07-3.50) and 2.14 (1.21-3.75), respectively] and composite outcome [ORs 95% CIs = 1.82 (1.15-2.87) and 1.98 (1.30-3.01), respectively] compared with mothers with normal pre-pregnancy weight and normal WC. Excessive GWG was found to be associated with an increased risk of LGA [OR 95% CI = 1.74 (1.05-2.89)], but was not significantly related to higher risks of GDM, P-CS and composite outcome [ORs 95% CIs = 0.90 (0.47-1.72), 1.08 (0.77-1.52), and 1.30 (0.94-1.79), respectively]. In terms of the joint effect of maternal pregestational BMI and WC on obesity-related composite outcome, mothers with both pre-pregnancy overweight and central adiposity had the highest risk of composite outcome [OR 95% CI = 3.96 (2.40-6.54)], compared with mothers without pre-pregnancy overweight or central adiposity.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and central adiposity may contribute to multiple obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes, excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of LGA. Healthcare providers should carry out health education, and guide women to keep an ideal BMI and WC prior to pregnancy and help them gain optimal weight during pregnancy based on their pre-pregnancy BMI and WC.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Subject flow diagram.
CHMIS, Community Health Management Information System.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Correlation between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and pre-pregnancy waist circumference (WC).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Odds ratios (95% CIs) for obesity-related composite outcome by joint effect of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and waist circumstance (WC).
Group 00: Pre-pregnancy BMI < 24 kg/m2 and Pre-pregnancy WC < 80 cm; Group 10: Pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and Pre-pregnancy WC < 80 cm; Group 01: Pre-pregnancy BMI < 24 kg/m2 and Pre-pregnancy WC ≥ 80 cm; Group 11: Pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and Pre-pregnancy WC ≥ 80 cm.

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