Ethnic Differences in Gestational Weight Gain: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Norway

Abstract

Objectives To explore ethnic differences in gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods This was a population-based cohort study conducted in primary care child health clinics in Groruddalen, Oslo, Norway. Participants were healthy pregnant women (n = 632) categorised to six ethnic groups (43 % were Western European women, the reference group). Body weight was measured at 15 and 28 weeks' gestation on average. Data on pre-pregnancy weight and total GWG until delivery were self-reported. The main method of analysis was linear regression adjusting for age, weeks' gestation, pre-pregnancy body mass index, education and severe nausea. Results No ethnic differences were observed in GWG by 15 weeks' gestation. By 28 weeks' gestation, Eastern European women had gained 2.71 kg (95 % confidence interval, CI 1.10-4.33) and Middle Eastern women 1.32 kg (95 % CI 0.14-2.50) more weight on average than the Western European women in the fully adjusted model. Among Eastern European women, the total adjusted GWG was 3.47 kg (95 % CI 1.33-5.61) above the reference group. Other ethnic groups (South Asian, East Asian and African) did not differ from the reference group. When including non-smokers (n = 522) only, observed between-group differences increased and Middle Eastern women gained more weight than the reference group by all time points. Conclusions Eastern European and Middle Eastern women had higher GWG on average than Western European women, especially among the non-smokers. Although prevention of excessive GWG is important for all pregnant women, these ethnic groups might need special attention during pregnancy.

Addressing cultural, racial and ethnic discrepancies in guideline discordant gestational weight gain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Numerous studies explored more diverse racial/ethnic groups (Neser, 1963; Allen et al., 1994; Frisbie, Forbes & Hummer, 1998; Larouche et al., 2010; Bogaerts et al., 2012; Kowal, Kuk & Tamim, 2012; Gaillard et al., 2013; Hernandez-Rivas et al., 2013; Sommer et al., 2014; Bahadoer et al., 2015; Deputy et al., 2015; Kinnunen et al., 2016) but there were too few similarities within the data to compare GWG patterns. These studies are included in the summaries presented in Table 2 (2009 IOM guidelines).…”

Body mass index and gestational weight gain in migrant women by birth regions compared with Swedish-born women: A registry linkage study of 0.5 million pregnancies

“…Only a few and relatively small studies have examined associations of birth regions/countries with excessive GWG within a European context, e.g. [ 25 , 27 – 29 ]. Previous studies have indicated that women with non-European [ 28 ] and Moroccan [ 25 , 27 ] origin may have lower risk for excessive GWG than non-migrant women, whereas Kinnunen et al [ 29 ] did not identify any statistically significant differences across ethnic groups.…”

“…[ 25 , 27 – 29 ]. Previous studies have indicated that women with non-European [ 28 ] and Moroccan [ 25 , 27 ] origin may have lower risk for excessive GWG than non-migrant women, whereas Kinnunen et al [ 29 ] did not identify any statistically significant differences across ethnic groups. Our findings show large variation in the odds of excessive GWG across birth regions although women born in Sweden had greater odds of excessive GWG than first-generation migrant women from some, but not all continents (i.e.…”

Overweight and abdominal obesity in women of childbearing age of Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin and the general Finnish population

“…Parity was not associated with the prevalence of overweight among 35-74 year-old Turkish and Moroccan migrants living in the Netherlands 17 . In Norway, women of Eastern European and Middle Eastern origin gained more weight during pregnancy 19 and women of South Asian, Middle Eastern and African origin retained more weight postpartum 20…”