According to a new study published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, pregnant women are not meeting recommendations for healthy pregnancy nutrition and activity. Overweight women are less likely to adhere to healthy recommendations than normal weight women. The study, completed by researchers from the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, could provide the foundation needed to improve pregnancy nutrition and activity education.
The study was relatively small with only 58 participants. BMI was measured and women were placed in normal or overweight groups based on BMI measurements. Researchers found that healthy and overweight women were generally presented with comparable nutrition and activity information, but some discrepancies were noted. Only 8% of healthy weight women knew the correct number of servings for daily fruit and vegetable intake, compared to 36% of overweight women. Despite having more knowledge, overweight women were less likely to meet the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. They were also more likely to dine on fast food and consume soft drinks. Fewer than 50% of women met recommended physical activity levels, regardless of BMI.
Source: de Jersey SJ, Nicholson JM, Callaway LK, Daniels LA. An observational study of nutrition and physical activity behaviors, knowledge, and advice on pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013 May 20;13:115. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-115.
