Effects of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain on antenatal mental disorders in China

Abstract

Abstract Background Maternal obesity is the most common medical condition in women of reproductive age all over the world. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) have been suggested to be associated with risk of maternal mental disorders. Our aim was to investigate the effects of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on antenatal depression, stress and anxiety. Methods 4983 pregnant women were included in the present study based on an ongoing prospective cohort. We used self-reported pre-pregnancy weight and the last weight prior to delivery measured by professional instruments to calculate pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG. Questionnaires including The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the 10-item version of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were administered. We used Pearson product moment correlation and multivariable logistic regression models to examine the impacts of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on different maternal mental disorders. Results After adjustment for way of conception, annual household income, occupation, education, smoking status and drinking status, excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with higher risk of anxiety symptoms in the entire sample (adjusted model: OR = 1.479, 95% CI: 1.128, 1.938), especially in normal BMI women (adjusted model: OR = 1.668, 95% CI: 1.209, 2.302).Whereas the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and mental health was not significant. Conclusions Excessive GWG might increase the risk of anxiety symptoms in pregnant women, especially those with normal pre-pregnancy BMI, while the effects on depression or stress symptoms have not been observed. The maternal pre-pregnancy BMI might not be independently associated with maternal mental disorders.