Food Deserts and Gestational Weight Gain: An Urban Problem? [24R

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Over 48% of women in the United States gain more than the recommended amount of weight in pregnancy, and poor access to healthy foods has been proposed to contribute to this. Philadelphia has many food deserts, neighborhoods with poor access to affordable healthy food. These areas have been studied before; however, no studies have focused on pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to identify whether food access impacts gestational weight gain. METHODS: A survey detailing food access was administered to 197 postpartum women. Electronic medical record data was collected regarding gestational weight gain and basic demographic data. Primary analysis looked at gestational weight gain as influenced by the frequency of produce shopping. We also analyzed gestational weight gain based on distance to the nearest grocery store. Data was analyzed using chi-square tests, chi-square for linear associations, and Spearman’s correlations. RESULTS: Mean BMI of participants was 27.86, with 32.5% having a BMI of 30 or greater, and 59.3% gaining appropriate gestational weight. Produce shopping frequency did not significantly impact gestational weight gain, P=0.08. Participants who shopped for produce less frequently were least likely to gain excess weight; however, this trend is not a significant, rho=-0.09. There was no significant correlation of appropriate weight gain and distance to the nearest grocery store, (p=0.97). CONCLUSION: Sixty percent of participants in this study gained the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. Residency within a food desert and frequency of produce shopping had no impact on weight gain during pregnancy.