Shepherd, Sarah Helen
(2023)
A Literature Review of Gestational Weight Restriction Among Individuals with Obesity and its Association with Neonatal Outcomes.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Background: The prevalence of obesity continues to rise worldwide and affects many reproductive aged individuals. The 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends pregnant persons with obesity, regardless of obesity severity, gain 5-9 kilograms (kg) during pregnancy to balance the effect of obesity on adverse neonatal outcomes. New evidence suggests gestational weight gain recommendations should vary by class of obesity to balance the effect of gestational weight gain on adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Recent research suggests the IOM guidelines may be too high for pregnant persons with obesity, and gestational weight restriction, defined as low gestational weight gain (0-4.9 kg) or gestational weight loss (< 0 kg), may be beneficial. However, the safety of gestational weight restriction is unknown.
Methods: A literature search of the National Library of Medicine yielded twelve articles, ten observational studies and two intervention studies, examining the association between gestational weight restriction and adverse neonatal outcomes. The neonatal outcomes assessed were small-for-gestational age, large-for-gestational age, macrosomia, preterm birth, and stillbirth.
Findings: The observational studies reported mixed results for the effect of gestational weight restriction on most of the adverse neonatal outcomes. However, of the nine studies examining the association between gestational weight restriction and large-for-gestational age birth, all nine reported consistent findings. The nine studies suggest gestational weight restriction reduces or does not affect the risk of large-for-gestational age birth for pregnant persons with obesity compared to those who gained within the IOM recommendations. The two intervention studies reported weight restriction interventions did not increase the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes for pregnant persons with obesity in the intervention group compared to those in the control group.
Conclusion: Due to the inconsistency of findings for association between gestational weight restriction on the examined adverse neonatal outcomes, more studies are warranted to investigate the safety of gestational weight restriction for pregnant persons with obesity, and particularly those with class III obesity. As the prevalence of obesity rises globally, it is of public health importance to evaluate the safety of gestational weight restriction to balance the risks of adverse neonatal outcomes associated with obesity.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Thesis advisor | Bodnar, Lisa | bodnar@edc.pitt.edu | bodnar | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Himes, Katherine | himeskp@upmc.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Parisi, Sara | smp101@pitt.edu | smp101 | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
5 January 2023 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
16 December 2022 |
| Access Restriction: |
2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
46 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Epidemiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
N/A |
| Date Deposited: |
05 Jan 2023 15:43 |
| Last Modified: |
05 Jan 2023 15:43 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/44040 |
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