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Provider Advice About Pregnancy Weight Gain and Adequacy of Weight Gain

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Abstract

To explore the association between health care provider advice about weight gain and gestational weight gain. Using data from a prospective cohort study, we explored the association between provider advice about weight gain in pregnancy with weight gain adequacy among 1,454 pregnant women. Provider advice was measured by maternal self-report at 27–30 weeks’ gestation. Linear and Poisson regression were used to explore associations. Seventy-eight percent of the women gained outside current recommendations. Fifty-one percent reported receiving weight gain advice from a health care provider. Adjusted Generalized Linear Model (GLM) estimates showed weak effect of provider advice on inadequate or excessive gain (Relative Risk (RR) 0.96, 95% CI 0.74, 1.26 for inadequate gain and RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.97, 1.06 for excessive gain). There is a need for more women to hear about their targeted weight gains during pregnancy and the present advice that exists does little to influence actual gains. Further studies are warranted to find better strategies for providers to motivate their patients to gain weight within the appropriate ranges.

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Acknowledgments

This study received support from the National Institute of Child Health and Human. Development, National Institutes of Health (HD37584, HD39373), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK61981, DK56350), and the Carolina Population Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Campus Box 7590, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7590, USA

    Renée M. Ferrari

  2. Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2105-A McGavran Greenberg, Campus Box 7435, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7435, USA

    Anna Maria Siega-Riz

Authors
  1. Renée M. Ferrari
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  2. Anna Maria Siega-Riz
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Correspondence to Renée M. Ferrari.

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Ferrari, R.M., Siega-Riz, A.M. Provider Advice About Pregnancy Weight Gain and Adequacy of Weight Gain. Matern Child Health J 17, 256–264 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-0969-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-0969-z

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