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Self-reported Pre-pregnancy Weight Versus Weight Measured at First Prenatal Visit: Effects on Categorization of Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index

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Abstract

To compare classification of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) using self-reported pre-pregnancy weight versus weight measured at the first prenatal visit. Retrospective cohort of 307 women receiving prenatal care at the faculty and resident obstetric clinics at a Massachusetts tertiary-care center. Eligible women initiated prenatal care prior to 14 weeks gestation and delivered singleton infants between April 2007 and March 2008. On average, self-reported weight was 4 pounds lighter than measured weight at the first prenatal visit (SD 7.2 pounds; range: 19 pounds lighter to 35 pounds heavier). Using self-reported pre-pregnancy weight to calculate pre-pregnancy BMI, 4.2 % of women were underweight, 48.9 % were normal weight, 25.4 % were overweight, and 21.5 % were obese. Using weight measured at first prenatal visit, these were 3.6, 45.3, 26.4, and 24.8 %, respectively. Classification of pre-pregnancy BMI was concordant for 87 % of women (weighted kappa = 0.86; 95 % CI 0.81–0.90). Women gained an average of 32.1 pounds (SD 18.0 pounds) during pregnancy. Of the 13 % of the sample with discrepant BMI classification, 74 % gained within the same adherence category when comparing weight gain to Institute of Medicine recommendations. For the vast majority of women, self-reported pre-pregnancy weight and measured weight at first prenatal visit resulted in identical classification of pre-pregnancy BMI. In absence of measured pre-pregnancy weight, we recommend that providers calculate both values and discuss discrepancies with their pregnant patients, as significant weight loss or gain during the first trimester may indicate a need for additional oversight with potential intervention.

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Acknowledgments

Partial salary support for Dr. Moore Simas is provided by the National Institutes of Health contract HHSN267200700024C. Partial salary support for Dr. Waring is provided by the National Institutes of Health grant 1U01HL105268.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical School/University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care, 119 Belmont Street, Jaquith Building, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA

    Erica Holland, Tiffany A. Moore Simas & Xun Liao

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School/University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA

    Tiffany A. Moore Simas

  3. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences Residency, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208063, New Haven, CT, 06520-8063, USA

    Darrah K. Doyle Curiale

  4. Division of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases and Vulnerable Populations, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, ACCES7, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Molly E. Waring

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  1. Erica Holland
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  2. Tiffany A. Moore Simas
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  3. Darrah K. Doyle Curiale
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  4. Xun Liao
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  5. Molly E. Waring
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Correspondence to Molly E. Waring.

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Holland, E., Moore Simas, T.A., Doyle Curiale, D.K. et al. Self-reported Pre-pregnancy Weight Versus Weight Measured at First Prenatal Visit: Effects on Categorization of Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index. Matern Child Health J 17, 1872–1878 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1210-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1210-9

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