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Selected Publication:
Rad, V.
Nutritional Behavior and Gestational Weight Gain in Physically Active and Non-Active Pregnant Women
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2015. pp. 69
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Holasek Sandra Johanna
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- Abstract:
- INTRODUCTION: Adequate nutrition plays an important role in achieving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Physical activity should also play a part in the life of pregnant women, as it can be beneficial to their health. Gestational weight gain (the inadequate as well as the excessive) can influence not only the health of mothers but, their offspring as well. This thesis aims to explore the difference of physically active and non-active pregnant women concerning nutrition and gestational weight gain. METHODS: This prospective observational study followed 21 physically active and 23 non active women throughout pregnancy. Nutritional intake was measured each trimester. Total energy intake, macronutrient intake, macronutrient distribution and intake of 12 food groups were calculated. Gestational weight gain was calculated by subtracting weight at delivery from prepregnancy weight and classified according to the IOM 2009 recommendations. RESULTS: Total energy and macronutrient intake did not differ between the two activity groups. Certain food groups however differed significantly between active and non-active women (fish consumption, total fat through fish, cereal and potato consumption, carbohydrate intake through meat and sausage consumption). Energy intake of active women differed significantly from D-A-CH recommendations throughout the whole pregnancy. Physically non-active women also had a significantly low energy intake in the third trimester. Carbohydrate intake was too low and fat intake, as well as intake of saturated fatty acids, were too high in both groups for all trimesters. Mean weight gain was 15.16 ± 3.91 kg for active and 15.94 ± 5.52 kg for non-active women. A higher percentage of active women (55%) than non-active women (42.86%) gained within recommendations. Especially women who were overweight before pregnancy (80%) gained more than recommended. DISCUSSION: There seems to be a trend that women, who are physically active at the beginning of pregnancy, have a lower energy intake than physically not active women. They also tend to adhere better to weight gain recommendations during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to explore the differences of physically active and non-active Austrian pregnant women.