Sociodemographic and Health Characteristics Associated With Attempting Weight Loss During Pregnancy
2009

Weight Loss Attempts During Pregnancy

Sample size: 6593 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Cohen Jennifer H. PhD, MPH, Kim Hyoshin PhD

Primary Institution: Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation

Hypothesis

What sociodemographic and health characteristics are associated with pregnant women attempting to lose weight?

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of pregnant women attempt to lose weight, highlighting the need for counseling on maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy.

Supporting Evidence

  • 8.1% of pregnant women reported attempting to lose weight.
  • Attempting to lose weight was associated with being older than 34, Hispanic ethnicity, obesity, alcohol consumption, and mental distress.
  • Women with lower education levels and household incomes were more likely to attempt weight loss.

Takeaway

Many pregnant women try to lose weight, which can be risky for both them and their babies. It's important for doctors to help women stay healthy during pregnancy instead.

Methodology

The study used aggregated data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 1996-2003 to assess weight loss attempts among pregnant women.

Potential Biases

Self-reported data may lead to overreporting of height and underreporting of weight.

Limitations

The study is cross-sectional, relies on self-reported data, and lacks information on gestational age and specific weight-loss methods.

Participant Demographics

Participants were pregnant women aged 18-44, with a majority being younger than 35, white, married, and having at least a high school education.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.01

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 7.0%-9.2%

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

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