Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Self-Reported Pregravid Weight Status, Gestational Weight Gain, and Pregnancy Complications

Citation

Laraia, Barbara A.; Siega-Riz, Anna Maria; & Gundersen, Craig (2010). Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Self-Reported Pregravid Weight Status, Gestational Weight Gain, and Pregnancy Complications. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110(5), 692-701. PMCID: PMC3018748

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Household food insecurity is positively associated with weight among women. The association between household food insecurity and pregnancy-related weight gain and complications is not well understood.
OBJECTIVE: To identify whether an independent association exists between household food insecurity and pregnancy-related complications.
DESIGN: Data from the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition prospective cohort study were used to assess household food insecurity retrospectively using the US Department of Agriculture 18-item Core Food Security Module among 810 pregnant women with incomes < or =400% of the income/poverty ratio, recruited between January 2001 and June 2005 and followed through pregnancy.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported pregravid body mass index, gestational weight gain, second trimester anemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and gestational diabetes mellitus.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Multivariate linear, multinomial logistic, and logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: Among 810 pregnant women, 76% were from fully food secure, 14% were from marginally food secure, and 10% were from food insecure households. In adjusted models, living in a food insecure household was significantly associated with severe pregravid obesity (adjusted odds ratio 2.97, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 1.44 to 6.14), higher gestational weight gain (adjusted beta coefficient 1.87, 95% CI 0.13 to 3.62), and with a higher adequacy of weight gain ratio (adjusted beta .27, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.50). Marginal food security was significantly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio 2.76, 95% CI 1.00 to 7.66).
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the possibility that living in a food insecure household during pregnancy may increase risk of greater weight gain and pregnancy complications.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2010.02.014

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2010

Journal Title

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Author(s)

Laraia, Barbara A.
Siega-Riz, Anna Maria
Gundersen, Craig

PMCID

PMC3018748

ORCiD

Siega-Riz - 0000-0002-1303-4248