Patterns of gestational weight gain related to fetal growth among women with overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVE

Maternal obesity is associated with increased risk of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births. Both are related to childhood obesity. This study considers that the patterns of gestational weight gain (GWG) may help to disentangle these competing risks.

METHODS

Patterns of GWG were characterized among a cohort of women with overweight or obesity (n = 651). Polytomous logistic regression models were tested for associations between GWG patterns and birth weight outcomes: SGA (<10th) and LGA (>90th percentile).

RESULTS

Rates of SGA were higher than those for LGA (14.9% vs. 7.8%). Four GWG patterns were identified: consistently high (29%), early adequate/late high (33%), consistently adequate (18%), and consistently low (20%). Risk of LGA was highest in women with consistently high GWG (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.62 [1.53, 13.96]), and risk was elevated, but with lower magnitude, among women with early adequate/late high gains (OR 3.07 [1.01, 9.37]). High GWG before 20 weeks, regardless of later gain, was related to LGA. Low gain before 20 weeks accompanied by high gain later may be associated with reduced SGA risk (0.55 [0.29, 1.07]).

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of weight gain during pregnancy may be an important contributor to or marker of abnormal fetal growth among women with overweight or obesity.