Prevalence of Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity in Women in the First Trimester of Pregnancy in Zahedan, Iran, 2022

Abstract

Background: Underweight, overweight, and obesity in pregnant women are addressed as a importance result of the mother and child health. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in pregnant women in Zahedan city, southeast Iran, and also to determine any related demographic factors. Methods: The present cross- sectional study included 702 women in their first trimester of pregnancy in urban and rural areas of Zahedan from 20 healthcare centers in 2022. The measurements of women who had attended the first trimester visit up to the 12th week of pregnancy in Electronic Health Records, known as SIB were collected. Moreover, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and chi-square test. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The findings indicated that 80 (11.4%) of the pregnant women were underweight, 371 (52.8%) had normal weight, 157 (22.4%) were overweight, and 94 (13.4%) were obese. Moreover, the mean body mass index was 23.98±5.04 kg/m2. Bivariate correlations revealed that obesity and overweight status were significantly associated with age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), resident status, level of education, and the number of children. Conclusions: According to the findings, obesity, overweight, and underweight in the first trimester of pregnancy are significant public health concerns in society. Informing women at their reproductive age through educational interventions for weight management is recommended in this specific area