News | Couples' Eating Habits Affect Gestational Weight Gain
A recent study published in Nutrients evaluated associations between gestational weight gain (GWG) and eating behaviors among pregnant women and their nonpregnant partners. Poorer cognitive restraint was associated with higher GWG, suggesting that shared dietary restraint may reduce GWG and thereby lower the risks of fetal macrosomia, cesarean delivery, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Background
Excessive GWG is associated with increased risks of fetal macrosomia, gestational hypertension, cesarean delivery, and GDM. Although pregnancy is often associated with eating and snacking more, little is known about the eating behaviors that may contribute to excessive GWG. The effect of a nonpregnant partner's eating habits on GWG has also not been studied.
Study Overview
The researchers hypothesized that nonpregnant partners can influence household food consumption and encourage healthy attitudes and habits during pregnancy. They expected the couple's combined behavior to have the strongest association with GWG, followed by the pregnant woman's behavior alone, with the partner's behavior having the weakest association.
Pregnant participants had a BMI of 18.5 to 35, were at least 21 years old, had a singleton pregnancy, and were planning pregnancy or less than 10 weeks pregnant. Exclusion criteria included fertility treatment, pre-existing conditions, medications affecting fetal growth, and alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy.
Findings
The study included 218 pregnant women with a mean age of 30.3 and 157 nonpregnant partners with a mean age of 31.4. Mean BMI was 26.1 among pregnant participants and 28.5 among partners. Nonpregnant partners were more likely to have obesity, earn more than $40,000, and have at least a college degree.
Mean GWG across the cohort was 11.8 kg, and nearly half had excessive GWG. Only one-third of pregnant women with normal weight had excessive GWG, compared with 63% of women with overweight and 52.2% of women with obesity.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that a supportive partner relationship may promote healthier eating behaviors and optimal GWG. Dietary interventions involving both partners may therefore be more effective than those directed only at the pregnant woman.
One limitation was that dietary or energy intake, which may be predicted by eating behaviors, was not assessed. Sleep and physical activity may also affect GWG but were not considered in this analysis.
News | Couples' Eating Habits Affect Gestational Weight Gain
News | Couples' Eating Habits Affect Gestational Weight Gain
A recent study published in Nutrients evaluated associations between gestational weight gain (GWG) and eating behaviors among pregnant women and their nonpregnant partners. Poorer cognitive restraint was associated with higher GWG, suggesting that shared dietary restraint may reduce GWG and thereby lower the risks of fetal macrosomia, cesarean delivery, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Background
Excessive GWG is associated with increased risks of fetal macrosomia, gestational hypertension, cesarean delivery, and GDM. Although pregnancy is often associated with eating and snacking more, little is known about the eating behaviors that may contribute to excessive GWG. The effect of a nonpregnant partner's eating habits on GWG has also not been studied.
Study Overview
The researchers hypothesized that nonpregnant partners can influence household food consumption and encourage healthy attitudes and habits during pregnancy. They expected the couple's combined behavior to have the strongest association with GWG, followed by the pregnant woman's behavior alone, with the partner's behavior having the weakest association.
Pregnant participants had a BMI of 18.5 to 35, were at least 21 years old, had a singleton pregnancy, and were planning pregnancy or less than 10 weeks pregnant. Exclusion criteria included fertility treatment, pre-existing conditions, medications affecting fetal growth, and alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy.
Findings
The study included 218 pregnant women with a mean age of 30.3 and 157 nonpregnant partners with a mean age of 31.4. Mean BMI was 26.1 among pregnant participants and 28.5 among partners. Nonpregnant partners were more likely to have obesity, earn more than $40,000, and have at least a college degree.
Mean GWG across the cohort was 11.8 kg, and nearly half had excessive GWG. Only one-third of pregnant women with normal weight had excessive GWG, compared with 63% of women with overweight and 52.2% of women with obesity.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that a supportive partner relationship may promote healthier eating behaviors and optimal GWG. Dietary interventions involving both partners may therefore be more effective than those directed only at the pregnant woman.
One limitation was that dietary or energy intake, which may be predicted by eating behaviors, was not assessed. Sleep and physical activity may also affect GWG but were not considered in this analysis.
Source:
Collected online