Dietary behavior of obese pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at El Manial University Hospital

Abstract

Background The poor quality of maternal diet among obese pregnant women was considered one of the most significant predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary behavior among obese pregnant women. Design A descriptive research design was adopted to reach the stated aim. Sample A purposive sample of 125 obese pregnant women through a period of 6 months was recruited from the antenatal care at El Manial Maternity Hospital. Tools Three tools were used: (a) structured interviewing questionnaire tool, (b) anthropometric assessment tool, and (c) nutritional assessment tools. Results Only 61.6% of the study sample never ate fast food, 32% either drink beverage regularly or always. Moreover, 46.4% from the study sample always added sugar in large quantities, 40% consume fruits, 35.2% either use fat or oil during cooking, and ate snacks between meals. Also, 83.2% from the study sample had unsatisfactory dietary behavior for certain nutrients. Conclusion Carbohydrate, diary product, fruits, vegetables, and grains were the main nutrients used by the study sample. Craving for unhealthy foods such as beverages, sweets, and fats was noted among the study sample. Moreover, the overall intake of food in the form of nutrients was found above the limits of the recommended dietary allowances for most of the nutrients among the study sample during pregnancy. Recommendation Counseling for proper dietary intake and dietary behavior for obese pregnant women was strongly recommended.