Association between perception of pre-pregnancy body weight and nutritional status during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: Perception of body weight often affects dietary intake and biological nutrient concentrations. However, the association during pregnancy has not been clarified. This study examined the association of the perceived pre-pregnancy body weight with nutrient intake and circulating nutrient concentrations during pregnancy.

Methods And Study Design: The cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in Tokyo, Japan, from 2010 to 2014. Nutrient intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. The circulating concentrations of some nutrients were measured. The participants were divided into the following groups based on the perceived pre-pregnancy body weight: thin group (TG, n=174), average group (AG, n=357), and fat group (FG, n=220). Analysis of covariance was performed to compare the nutritional status among the groups.

Results: Women in the AG had significantly higher energy-adjusted intake of important nutrients such as eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, total dietary fiber, calcium, iron, and folate compared with women in the TG or FG. Among women with pre-pregnancy normal body mass index (BMI), intakes of nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B1 and the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and β-carotene concentrations were significantly lower in the FG than in TG or AG. Among women with pre-pregnancy underweight, no significant differences were found in the nutritional status between the groups.

Conclusions: Pregnant Japanese women who overestimate their pre-pregnancy body weight despite having a normal BMI may need to have their nutritional status carefully assessed as a high-risk population for several nutrient deficiencies.