Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Acculturation and gestational weight gain in a predominantly puerto rican population

Authors: Alison Tovar, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Odilia I Bermudez, Raymond R Hyatt, Aviva Must

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Identifying risk factors that affect excess weight gain during pregnancy is critical, especially among women who are at a higher risk for obesity. The goal of this study was to determine if acculturation, a possible risk factor, was associated with gestational weight gain in a predominantly Puerto Rican population.

Methods

We utilized data from Proyecto Buena Salud, a prospective cohort study of Hispanic women in Western Massachusetts, United States. Height, weight and gestational age were abstracted from medical records among participants with full-term pregnancies (n=952). Gestational weight gain was calculated as the difference between delivery and prepregnancy weight. Acculturation (measured via a psychological acculturation scale, generation in the US, place of birth and spoken language preference) was assessed in early pregnancy.

Results

Adjusting for age, parity, perceived stress, gestational age, and prepregnancy weight, women who had at least one parent born in Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic (PR/DR) and both grandparents born in PR/DR had a significantly higher mean total gestational weight gain (0.9 kg for at least one parent born in PR/DR and 2.2kg for grandparents born in PR/DR) and rate of weight gain (0.03 kg/wk for at least one parent born in PR/DR and 0.06 kg/wk for grandparents born in PR/DR) vs. women who were of PR/DR born. Similarly, women born in the US had significantly higher mean total gestational weight gain (1.0 kg) and rate of weight gain (0.03 kg/wk) vs. women who were PR/ DR born. Spoken language preference and psychological acculturation were not significantly associated with total or rate of pregnancy weight gain.

Conclusion

We found that psychological acculturation was not associated with gestational weight gain while place of birth and higher generation in the US were significantly associated with higher gestational weight gain. We interpret these findings to suggest the potential importance of the US “obesogenic” environment in influencing unhealthy pregnancy weight gains over specific aspects of psychological acculturation.
Literature
1.
Siega-Riz AM, Evenson KR, Dole N: Pregnancy-related weight gain–a link to obesity?. Nutr Rev. 2004, 62 (7 Pt 2): S105-S111.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Ohlin A, Rossner S: Maternal body weight development after pregnancy. Int J Obes. 1990, 14 (2): 159-173.PubMed
3.
Olson CM, Strawderman MS: Modifiable behavioral factors in a bio psychosocial model predict inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003, 103 (1): 48-54. 10.1053/jada.2003.50001.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Gunderson EP, Abrams B: Epidemiology of gestational weight gain and body weight changes after pregnancy. Epidemiol Rev. 2000, 22 (2): 261-274. 10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a018038.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Oken E, Taveras EM, Kleinman KP, Rich-Edwards JW, Gillman MW: Gestational weight gain and child adiposity at age 3 years. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007, 196 (4): 322 e321-328.CrossRef
6.
Moreira P, Padez C, Mourao-Carvalhal I, Rosado V: Maternal weight gain during pregnancy and overweight in Portuguese children. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007, 31 (4): 608-614. 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803582.CrossRef
7.
Hedley AA, Ogden CL, Johnson CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Flegal KM: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among US children, adolescents, and adults, 1999–2002. JAMA. 2004, 291 (23): 2847-2850. 10.1001/jama.291.23.2847.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Schieve LA, Cogswell ME, Scanlon KS: Trends in pregnancy weight gain within and outside ranges recommended by the Institute of Medicine in a WIC population. Matern Child Health J. 1998, 2 (2): 111-116. 10.1023/A:1022992823185.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Helms E, Coulson CC, Galvin SL: Trends in weight gain during pregnancy: a population study across 16 years in North Carolina. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006, 194 (5): e32-e34. 10.1016/j.ajog.2006.01.025.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Viswanathan M, Siega-Riz AM, Moos MK, Deierlein A, Mumford S, Knaack J, Thieda P, Lux LJ, Lohr KN: Outcomes of maternal weight gain. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2008, 168: 1-223.
11.
12.
Hinkle SN, Sharma AJ, Kim SY, Park S, Dalenius K, Brindley PL, Grummer-Strawn LM: Prepregnancy Obesity Trends Among Low-Income Women, United States, 1999–2008. Matern Child Health J. 2011, 16 (7): 1339-1348.CrossRef
13.
Pan L, Freedman DS, Gillespie C, Park S, Sherry B: Incidences of obesity and extreme obesity among US adults: findings from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Popul Health Metr. 2011, 9 (1): 56-10.1186/1478-7954-9-56.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Chu SY, D'Angelo DV: Gestational weight gain among US women who deliver twins, 2001–2006. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009, 200 (4): 390 e391-396.CrossRef
15.
Taveras EM, Gillman MW, Kleinman K, Rich-Edwards JW, Rifas-Shiman SL: Racial/ethnic differences in early-life risk factors for childhood obesity. Pediatrics. 2010, 125 (4): 686-695. 10.1542/peds.2009-2100.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Kieffer EC, Tabaei BP, Carman WJ, Nolan GH, Guzman JR, Herman WH: The influence of maternal weight and glucose tolerance on infant birthweight in Latino mother-infant pairs. Am J Public Health. 2006, 96 (12): 2201-2208. 10.2105/AJPH.2005.065953.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Chasan-Taber L, Schmidt MD, Pekow P, Sternfeld B, Solomon CG, Markenson G: Predictors of excessive and inadequate gestational weight gain in Hispanic women. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008, 16 (7): 1657-1666. 10.1038/oby.2008.256.CrossRef
18.
Sam DL, Berry JW: Acculturation: When Individuals and Groups of Different Cultural Backgrounds Meet. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2010, 5 (4): 472-481. 10.1177/1745691610373075.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Kasirye OC, Walsh JA, Romano PS, Beckett LA, Garcia JA, Elvine-Kreis B, Bethel JW, Schenker MB: Acculturation and its association with health-risk behaviors in a rural Latina population. Ethn Dis. 2005, 15 (4): 733-739.PubMed
20.
Himelgreen David ABA, Perez-Escamilla R, Peng Y, Angela B: Birthplace, length of time in the U.S., and language are associated with diet among inner-city Puerto Rican women. Ecol Food Nutr. 2005, 44 (2): 105-122. 10.1080/03670240590923514.CrossRef
21.
Goel MS, McCarthy EP, Phillips RS, Wee CC: Obesity among US immigrant subgroups by duration of residence. JAMA. 2004, 292 (23): 2860-2867. 10.1001/jama.292.23.2860.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Akresh IR: Dietary assimilation and health among hispanic immigrants to the United States. J Health Soc Behav. 2007, 48 (4): 404-417. 10.1177/002214650704800405.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Barcenas CH, Wilkinson AV, Strom SS, Cao Y, Saunders KC, Mahabir S, Hernandez-Valero MA, Forman MR, Spitz MR, Bondy ML: Birthplace, years of residence in the United States, and obesity among Mexican-American adults. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007, 15 (4): 1043-1052. 10.1038/oby.2007.537.CrossRef
24.
Koya DL, Egede LE: Association between length of residence and cardiovascular disease risk factors among an ethnically diverse group of United States immigrants. J Gen Intern Med. 2007, 22 (6): 841-846. 10.1007/s11606-007-0163-y.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Roshania R, Narayan KM, Oza-Frank R: Age at arrival and risk of obesity among US immigrants. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008, 16 (12): 2669-2675. 10.1038/oby.2008.425.CrossRef
26.
Sanchez-Vaznaugh EV, Kawachi I, Subramanian SV, Sanchez BN, Acevedo-Garcia D: Differential effect of birthplace and length of residence on body mass index (BMI) by education, gender and race/ethnicity. Soc Sci Med. 2008, 67 (8): 1300-1310. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.06.015.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Singh GK, Siahpush M, Hiatt RA, Timsina LR: Dramatic increases in obesity and overweight prevalence and body mass index among ethnic-immigrant and social class groups in the United States, 1976–2008. J Community Health. 2011, 36 (1): 94-110. 10.1007/s10900-010-9287-9.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Berrigan D, Dodd K, Troiano RP, Reeve BB, Ballard-Barbash R: Physical activity and acculturation among adult Hispanics in the United States. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2006, 77 (2): 147-157. 10.5641/027013606X13080769704280.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Abraido-Lanza AF, Chao MT, Florez KR: Do healthy behaviors decline with greater acculturation? Implications for the Latino mortality paradox. Soc Sci Med. 2005, 61 (6): 1243-1255. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.01.016.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
31.
Committee ACOG: Opinion No. 435: postpartum screening for abnormal glucose tolerance in women who had gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 2009, 113 (6): 1419-1421.CrossRef
32.
33.
Chasan-Taber L, Fortner RT, Gollenberg A, Buonnaccorsi J, Dole N, Markenson G: A prospective cohort study of modifiable risk factors for gestational diabetes among Hispanic women: design and baseline characteristics. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010, 19 (1): 117-124. 10.1089/jwh.2009.1416.CrossRef
34.
Retnakaran R, Qi Y, Sermer M, Connelly PW, Hanley AJ, Zinman B: An abnormal screening glucose challenge test in pregnancy predicts postpartum metabolic dysfunction, even when the antepartum oral glucose tolerance test is normal. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2009, 71 (2): 208-214. 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2008.03460.x.CrossRef
35.
Siega-Riz AM, Adair LS, Hobel CJ: Institute of Medicine maternal weight gain recommendations and pregnancy outcome in a predominantly Hispanic population. Obstet Gynecol. 1994, 84 (4): 565-573.PubMed
36.
Tropp LR, Erkut S, Garcìa Coll C, Alarcòn O, Vàzquez Garcia HA: Psychological acculturation: Development of a new measure for Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland. Educ Psychol Meas. 1999, 59: 351-367. 10.1177/00131649921969794.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Brawarsky P, Stotland NE, Jackson RA, Fuentes-Afflick E, Escobar GJ, Rubashkin N, Haas JS: Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy-related factors and the risk of excessive or inadequate gestational weight gain. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2005, 91 (2): 125-131. 10.1016/j.ijgo.2005.08.008.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Torres L, Driscoll MW, Voell M: Discrimination, acculturation, acculturative stress, and Latino psychological distress: a moderated mediational model. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2012, 18 (1): 17-25.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
39.
Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Turner R, Alper CM, Skoner DP: Sociability and susceptibility to the common cold. Psychol Sci. 2003, 14 (5): 389-395. 10.1111/1467-9280.01452.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R: A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983, 24 (4): 385-396. 10.2307/2136404.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Chasan-Taber L, Schmidt MD, Roberts DE, Hosmer D, Markenson G, Freedson PS: Development and validation of a Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004, 36 (10): 1750-1760. 10.1249/01.MSS.0000142303.49306.0D.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Fuentes-Afflick E, Hessol NA: Acculturation and Body Mass among Latina Women. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2008, 17 (1): 67-73. 10.1089/jwh.2007.0389.CrossRef
43.
Singh GK, Siahpush M: Ethnic-immigrant differentials in health behaviors, morbidity, and cause-specific mortality in the United States: an analysis of two national data bases. Hum Biol. 2002, 74 (1): 83-109. 10.1353/hub.2002.0011.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Gordon-Larsen P, Harris KM, Ward DS, Popkin BM: Acculturation and overweight-related behaviors among Hispanic immigrants to the US: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Soc Sci Med. 2003, 57 (11): 2023-2034. 10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00072-8.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Walker LO, Hoke MM, Brown A: Risk factors for excessive or inadequate gestational weight gain among Hispanic women in a U.S.-Mexico border state. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2009, 38 (4): 418-429. 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2009.01036.x.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Heilemann MV, Lee KA, Stinson J, Koshar JH, Goss G: Acculturation and perinatal health outcomes among rural women of Mexican descent. Res Nurs Health. 2000, 23 (2): 118-125. 10.1002/(SICI)1098-240X(200004)23:2<118::AID-NUR4>3.0.CO;2-0.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Hackley B, Fennie K, Applebaum J, Berry D, D'Eramo Melkus G: The effect of language preference on prenatal weight gain and postpartum weight retention in urban Hispanic women. Ethn Dis. 2010, 20 (2): 162-168.PubMed
48.
Raj S, Ganganna P, Bowering J: Dietary habits of Asian Indians in relation to length of residence in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999, 99 (9): 1106-1108. 10.1016/S0002-8223(99)00266-7.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Cantero PJ, Richardson JL, Baezconde-Garbanati L, Marks G: The association between acculturation and health practices among middle-aged and elderly Latinas. Ethn Dis. 1999, 9 (2): 166-180.PubMed
50.
Ham SA, Yore MM, Kruger J, Heath GW, Moeti R: Physical activity patterns among Latinos in the United States: putting the pieces together. Prev Chronic Dis. 2007, 4 (4): A92-PubMedPubMedCentral
51.
Slattery ML, Sweeney C, Edwards S, Herrick J, Murtaugh M, Baumgartner K, Guiliano A, Byers T: Physical activity patterns and obesity in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006, 38 (1): 33-41. 10.1249/01.mss.0000183202.09681.2a.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Wolin KY, Colditz G, Stoddard AM, Emmons KM, Sorensen G: Acculturation and physical activity in a working class multiethnic population. Prev Med. 2006, 42 (4): 266-272. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.01.005.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
53.
Lv N, Cason KL: Dietary pattern change and acculturation of Chinese Americans in Pennsylvania. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004, 104 (5): 771-778. 10.1016/j.jada.2004.02.032.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Yang EJ, Chung HK, Kim WY, Bianchi L, Song WO: Chronic diseases and dietary changes in relation to Korean Americans' length of residence in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007, 107 (6): 942-950. 10.1016/j.jada.2007.03.005.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Stevens-Simon C, Roghmann KJ, McAnarney ER: Relationship of self-reported prepregnant weight and weight gain during pregnancy to maternal body habitus and age. J Am Diet Assoc. 1992, 92 (1): 85-87.PubMed
56.
Hediger ML, Scholl TO, Belsky DH, Ances IG, Salmon RW: Patterns of weight gain in adolescent pregnancy: effects on birth weight and preterm delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 1989, 74 (1): 6-12.PubMed
57.
Tovar A, Chasan-Taber L, Bermudez OI, Hyatt RR, Must A: Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding weight gain during pregnancy among Hispanic women. Matern Child Health J. 2010, 14 (6): 938-949. 10.1007/s10995-009-0524-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
58.
Yeh MC, Viladrich A, Bruning N, Roye C: Determinants of Latina obesity in the United States: the role of selective acculturation. J Transcult Nurs. 2009, 20 (1): 105-115.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Acculturation and gestational weight gain in a predominantly puerto rican population
Authors
Alison Tovar
Lisa Chasan-Taber
Odilia I Bermudez
Raymond R Hyatt
Aviva Must
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-133

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2012 Go to the issue

Research article

Existing maternal obesity guidelines may increase inequalities between ethnic groups: a national epidemiological study of 502,474 births in England

Research article

Systemic delays in the initiation of antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy do not improve outcomes of HIV-positive mothers: a cohort study

Research article

The quality of antenatal care in rural Tanzania: what is behind the number of visits?

Research article

Breastfeeding cessation and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a longitudinal cohort study

Research article

Levels and correlates of non-adherence to WHO recommended inter-birth intervals in Rufiji, Tanzania

Research article

Influence of interpersonal violence on maternal anxiety, depression, stress and parenting morale in the early postpartum: a community based pregnancy cohort study