Objective

This study examined the associations of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG).

Methods

In the Mutaba’ah Study in the United Arab Emirates, repeated measurements throughout pregnancy from medical records were used to determine pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG. Associations of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors with pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG (separately by normal weight, overweight, and obesity status) were tested using multivariable regression models, adjusted for maternal age at delivery.

Results

Among 3,536 pregnant participants, more than half had pre-pregnancy overweight (33.2%) or obesity (26.9%), and nearly three-quarters had inadequate (34.2%) or excessive (38.2%) GWG. Higher parity (β for 1-2 to ≥5 children =0.94 to 1.73 kg/m2), lower maternal education (β for tertiary=-1.42), infertility treatment (β=0.69), and maternal pre-pregnancy active smoking (β=1.95) were independently associated with higher pre-pregnancy BMI. Higher parity was associated with a lower risk for excessive GWG among women with pre-pregnancy normal weight (Odds Ratios (ORs) for 1-2 to ≥5 children =0.61 to 0.39). Higher maternal education was negatively associated with inadequate GWG among women with normal weight and overweight (ORs for tertiary education =0.75 and 0.69, respectively).

Conclusions

Socio-demographic factors, especially parity and maternal education, were differentially associated with pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG adequacy across weight status.

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