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Maternal, Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P27-051-25) Associations of Prepregnancy Weight Change With Fetal Growth and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study in China

Monday, June 2, 2025
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board A-53

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Yuwei Lai, MBBS

    Wuhan, China
    Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, School of Public Health
    Wuhan, Hubei, China (People's Republic)

    • Co-Author(s)

  • XL

    Xianli Li

    Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, School of Public Health
    Wuhan, Hubei, China (People's Republic)

  • YW

    Yuxiang Wang

    Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, School of Public Health
    Wuhan, Hubei, China (People's Republic)

  • PW

    Ping Wu

    Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China (People's Republic)

  • YY

    Yixiang Ye, n/a

    Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    Wuhan, Hubei, China (People's Republic)

  • TG

    Tingting Geng

    Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  • GL

    Gang Liu

    Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, School of Public Health

  • XP

    Xiong-Fei Pan

    West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University
    Chengdu, Sichuan, China (People's Republic)

  • AP

    An Pan, PhD

    Professor
    Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    Wuhan, Hubei, China (People's Republic)

Disclosure(s):
Yuwei Lai, MBBS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Prepregnancy weight change from early adulthood reflects preconception nutritional status and energy balance, potentially influencing fetal development. Yet, evidence in Asian populations remains limited. We explored the relationship between prepregnancy weight change, fetal growth, and adverse birth outcomes among women in China.

Methods: This study included 6934 pregnant women from the Tongji-Huaxi-Shuangliu Birth Cohort Study. Prepregnancy weight change was defined as the difference between the weight at age 18 and weight before pregnancy. Fetal growth parameters, including head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter (BD), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL), and estimated fetal weight (EFW), were assessed via ultrasound. Adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), macrosomia, small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA), were obtained from medical records. Associations were estimated using linear mixed models and logistic regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic, reproductive, and lifestyle factors.

Results: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) maternal age was 26.7 (3.7) years. After multivariable adjustment, each SD increase in prepregnancy weight change was associated with higher Z scores of HC (0.034 (0.012, 0.055)), BD (0.033 (0.010, 0.055)), AC (0.040 (0.020, 0.059)), FL (0.045 (0.023, 0.066)), and EFW (0.052 (0.030, 0.073)). Prepregnancy weight change was positively associated with risks of macrosomia and LGA, and inversely associated with SGA risk (all P ≤ 0.02). In contrast to women with stable weight (weight fluctuating within ± 5.0 kg), those with high weight gain (≥ 10.0 kg) experienced a higher risk of macrosomia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 2.14) and LGA (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.93). No significant associations were observed between prepregnancy weight change and preterm birth or LBW.

Conclusions: Excessive prepregnancy weight gain was associated with higher Z scores of fetal growth parameters and increased risks of macrosomia and LGA. Maintaining weight stability from early adulthood to pregnancy is crucial for improving neonatal health.

Funding Sources: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China.