Research Article

Limiting Excess Weight Gain in Healthy Pregnant Women: Importance of Energy Intakes, Physical Activity, and Adherence to Gestational Weight Gain Guidelines

Table 1

Population characteristics ( ).

Characteristic (mean (SD))

Age (y)32.0 ± 4.3
Height (m)1.7 ± 0.1
Gestational age (weeks)26.8 ± 6.3
Pregnancy weight assessments
 Prepregnancy body mass index (kg/m2)a23 ± 3
 Estimated energy requirements (kcal/day)b2341 ± 151
 Average steps per day (steps/day)c6133 ± 2203
 Average energy expenditure (MET-hrs/day)d6.6 ± 2.6
 Total gestational weight gain (kg)17.1 ± 6.4
 Weekly gestational weight gain (kg)0.71 ± 0.44
Postpartum weight assessments
 Weight retention at 6-wk postpartum (kg)e10.9 ± 4.5
 Postpartum body mass index (kg/m2)25 ± 4

Based on self-reported weight.
Calculated using self-reported prepregnancy weight, self-reported height, age, and physical activity level.
Steps per day determined by 7-day wear time of pedometer.
MET-hrs/day determined by the pregnancy physical activity questionnaire [24].
Weight retention at 6-wk postpartum was determined by subtracting self-reported pre-pregnancy weight from the 6-wk value measured at the time of their routine 6-wk postpartum doctor’s visit.