Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale.

This study aimed to develop the Japanese version of the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale (J-PWGAS) as a measurement of body image regarding body weight and shape during pregnancy. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a perinatal medical center in Osaka, Japan, between March and November 2020. We recruited pregnant women in their second or third trimester, who were 20 years old or older and without pregnancy complications. This study evaluated the criterion validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Of the participants, 218 and 102 women participated in the validation and test-retest reliability studies, respectively. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a 17-item, five-factor structure. The J-PWGAS indicated acceptable criterion validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. The J-PWGAS can measure attitudes toward gestational weight gain in Japanese pregnant women and would be useful in examining the association of body image with weight gain and psychological status during pregnancy.

Association Between Body Image Before and During Pregnancy and Gestational Weight Gain in Japanese Women: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: More than half of women do not achieve appropriate gestational weight gain. Maternal body image may be an important factor associated with gestational weight gain. However, this association has not been thoroughly evaluated. We aimed to elucidate whether body image parameters before and during pregnancy are associated with gestational weight gain in Japanese women. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted at a hospital in Osaka, Japan from March 2020 to March 2021. We recruited women with singleton pregnancies in their second and third trimesters. Body image was assessed using the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale and additional questions. Gestational weight gain was classified as insufficient, appropriate, or excessive based on recommended ranges in Japan. One-way analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with insufficient or excessive weight gain. RESULTS: Of 266 enrolled women, 47 had insufficient weight gain and 100 had excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Risk factors for excessive gestational weight gain included a history of dietary restriction before pregnancy, negative attitudes toward gestational weight gain, and perception of body shape as fat and body shape dissatisfaction during pregnancy. Perception of body shape as thin during pregnancy was identified as a risk factor for insufficient gestational weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: Body image before and during pregnancy may be an important factor in preventing insufficient or excessive gestational weight gain in Japanese women. Healthcare professionals should consider body image when providing health guidance on weight management to pregnant women.

Association of Lifestyle Changes Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic with Nutrient Intake and Physical Activity Levels during Pregnancy in Japan.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced changes in our lifestyles, such as refraining from unnecessary outings. This study aimed to clarify the association of lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic with nutrient intake and physical activity levels during pregnancy in Japan. A cross-sectional study involving 168 healthy pregnant Japanese women was conducted in 2020. Nutrient intake and physical activity levels were assessed using validated self-administered questionnaires. Participants who reported experiencing changes in both dietary habits and physical activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic were classified as the lifestyle-affected group. Analysis of covariance was used. Among primiparas, intake of the following nutrients was significantly higher in the lifestyle-affected group (n = 14) than in the unaffected group (n = 77): protein, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. Among multiparas, the intake of dietary fiber and ß-carotene were significantly lower in the lifestyle-affected group (n = 13) than in the unaffected group (n = 64). No significant differences in physical activity levels were observed in accordance with the lifestyle changes. These findings suggest that lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have positive effects on nutrient intake during pregnancy in primiparas, whereas in multiparas, these changes have negative effects.