Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index and Prenatal Sugar Consumption Predict Gestational Weight Gain and/or Postpartum Mental Health in a Health Professional Shortage Area

Abstract

This study investigated whether the amount of third trimester added sugar consumption interacted with pre-pregnancy BMI (PPBMI) to predict gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum mental health in Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for primary care and mental health. Participants included pregnant women aged 18 to 36, with data collected in-person at 33-37 weeks gestation and 6 months postpartum using an anthropometric measurement, Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ), Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Prenatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS), and the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). No moderated mediation models were statistically significant. Results indicated that greater PPBMI predicted decreased GWG and increased 6-month postpartum depression symptoms. There was a significant, positive correlation between prenatal added sugar intake and 6-month postpartum depression, anxiety, and perceived stress symptoms. Support for associations between increasing PPBMI and increasing depression symptoms at 6 months postpartum in this sample of women in an HPSA for primary care and mental health highlights the importance of starting preventative care for women prior to pregnancy. Correlations between greater added sugar intake in the third trimester and increased depression, anxiety, and perceived stress symptoms at 6 months postpartum supports the need for more research directly investigating those relationships, which could inform perinatal prevention/intervention research.