Claudia Savard1,2,3, Emmanuelle Yan4, Anne-Sophie Plante3, Catherine Bégin1,5, Julie Robitaille1,2,3, Andréanne Michaud1,2,6, Simone Lemieux1,2, Véronique Provencher1,2, Anne-Sophie Morisset7,8,9. 1. School of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec City, Canada. 2. Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, NUTRISS Research Center, Laval University, Québec City, Canada. 3. Endocrinology and Nephrology Unit, CHU of Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, Canada. 4. Biology's Formation and Research Unit, Clermont-Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 5. School of Psychology, Laval University, Québec City, Canada. 6. Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Laval University, Québec City, Canada. 7. School of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec City, Canada. anne-sophie.morisset@fsaa.ulaval.ca. 8. Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, NUTRISS Research Center, Laval University, Québec City, Canada. anne-sophie.morisset@fsaa.ulaval.ca. 9. Endocrinology and Nephrology Unit, CHU of Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, Canada. anne-sophie.morisset@fsaa.ulaval.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between 3rd trimester attitudes toward weight gain and (1) pre-pregnancy BMI, (2) gestational weight gain (GWG) and (3) eating behaviours assessed in the 3rd trimester. METHODS: Seventy-nine (79) pregnant women completed the French version of the Pregnancy Weight Gain Attitude Scale (PWGAS), the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) and the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) in their 3rd trimester. Total GWG was calculated as the difference between the weight recorded before delivery and self-reported pre-pregnancy weight. RESULTS: Most (55.6%) women gained weight above the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendations, but there was no association between PWGAS scores and total or 3rd trimester GWG. Women with obesity had lower PWGAS total scores compared to women with overweight (3.48 ± 0.6 vs. 3.99 ± 0.3, p = 0.005), indicating more negative attitudes in women with obesity vs. overweight. Higher total PWGAS scores were positively correlated with intuitive eating scores (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), and inversely associated with unfavourable eating behaviours such as dietary restraint (r = - 0.42, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Women with positive attitudes toward weight gain reported healthier eating behaviours in late pregnancy, which remains to be confirmed in prospective studies. Interventions addressing body image issues during pregnancy may positively influence pregnant women's health, including eating behaviours. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control analytic study.
PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between 3rd trimester attitudes toward weight gain and (1) pre-pregnancy BMI, (2) gestational weight gain (GWG) and (3) eating behaviours assessed in the 3rd trimester. METHODS: Seventy-nine (79) pregnant women completed the French version of the Pregnancy Weight Gain Attitude Scale (PWGAS), the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) and the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) in their 3rd trimester. Total GWG was calculated as the difference between the weight recorded before delivery and self-reported pre-pregnancy weight. RESULTS: Most (55.6%) women gained weight above the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendations, but there was no association between PWGAS scores and total or 3rd trimester GWG. Women with obesity had lower PWGAS total scores compared to women with overweight (3.48 ± 0.6 vs. 3.99 ± 0.3, p = 0.005), indicating more negative attitudes in women with obesity vs. overweight. Higher total PWGAS scores were positively correlated with intuitive eating scores (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), and inversely associated with unfavourable eating behaviours such as dietary restraint (r = - 0.42, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION:Women with positive attitudes toward weight gain reported healthier eating behaviours in late pregnancy, which remains to be confirmed in prospective studies. Interventions addressing body image issues during pregnancy may positively influence pregnant women's health, including eating behaviours. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control analytic study.