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Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Gestational Weight Gain and Loss

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Abstract

We explored the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (NSED) and gestational weight gain and loss and if the association differed by race. A census tract level NSED index (categorized as low, mid-low, mid-high, and high) was generated from 12 measures from the 2000 US Census data. Gestational weight gain and other individual-level characteristics were derived from vital birth records for Allegheny County, PA for 2003–2010 (n = 55,608). Crude and adjusted relative risks were estimated using modified multilevel Poisson regression models to estimate the association between NSED and excessive and inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) and weight loss (versus adequate GWG). Black women lived in neighborhoods that were more likely to be socioeconomically disadvantaged compared to white women. Almost 55 % of women gained an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy, and 2 % lost weight during pregnancy. Black women were more likely than white women to have inadequate weight gain or weight loss. Mid-high (aRR = 1.3, 95 % CI 1.2, 1.3) and high (aRR = 1.5, 95 % CI 1.5, 1.6) NSED compared to low NSED was associated with inadequate weight gain while NSED was not associated with excessive weight gain. Among black women, high versus low NSED was associated with weight loss during pregnancy (RR = 1.6, 95 % CI 1.1, 2.5). Among white women, each level of NSED compared to low NSED was associated with weight loss during pregnancy. This study demonstrates how neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics can contribute to our understanding of inadequate weight gain and weight loss during pregnancy, having implications for future research and interventions designed to advance pregnancy outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the Allegheny County Health Department for their assistance with geo-coding birth record data. This research was made possible by funding from the Aetna Foundation (11-02359, PI: Mendez), National Institute of Health, NIAAA (T32 AA007453-30, PI: M Cornelius) and NICHD (R21 HD065807, PI: LM Bodnar). The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the funding sources, their directors, officers, or staff.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Dara D. Mendez, Anthony Fabio & Lisa M. Bodnar

  2. Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Donna Almario Doebler

  3. Department of Psychology in Education, University of Pittsburgh School of Education, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Kevin H. Kim

  4. Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, College of Education and Human Services, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA

    Ndidi N. Amutah

  5. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Lisa M. Bodnar

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  1. Dara D. Mendez
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  4. Ndidi N. Amutah
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Correspondence to Dara D. Mendez.

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Mendez, D.D., Doebler, D.A., Kim, K.H. et al. Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Gestational Weight Gain and Loss. Matern Child Health J 18, 1095–1103 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1339-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1339-1

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