Ethnic Disparities and Obesity Risk Factors in Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

Nutrients. 2023 Feb 12;15(4):926. doi: 10.3390/nu15040926.

Abstract

(1) Background: This article focuses on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in pregnancy in different ethnic groups and assesses the existence of associated comorbidities. (2) Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study of 16803 pregnant women was carried out between 2012 and 2018 in the health region of Lleida (72% of the total). The relationship between overweight and obesity and different variables was analyzed by calculating the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals with multivariate logistic regression models. (3) Results: The prevalence of obesity in pregnant women rose from 11.1% in 2012 to 13.4% in 2018, and there was an age-related weight gain. A high incidence of overweight and obesity was recorded in pregnant women from ethnic groups: Maghrebi, sub-Saharan African and Latin America populations presented ORs of 4.08, 3.18 and 1.59, respectively. Hypertension was the variable most affected by body mass index (BMI) > 25 (OR = 3.39) followed by gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.35). Depression was also associated with obesity. (4) Conclusions: The BMI of pregnant women is influenced by individual, ethnic and clinical factors. Mental health conditions such as depression are associated with BMI.

Keywords: ethnicity; obesity; overweight; pregnancy; prevalence.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Body Mass Index
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Obesity
  • Overweight* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications* / epidemiology
  • Pregnant Women
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Grants and funding

The APC was funded by Diputació de Lleida by Pikard Grant 2022 (expedient code: 9F22/016).