Is BMI a Useful Indicator of Prenatal Health Among Black American Women?

Abstract

BMI is commonly used to measure risk to prenatal health but may not be sensitive to adiposity-associated health problems for Black women. The aim of the present study was to test associations between indices of prenatal health and BMI in Black women. Data were from 652 women enrolled in two studies. Height and weight were used to calculate BMI. Depression and perceived stress were measured via maternal report, systemic inflammation via C-reactive protein (CRP), and nutrition by the ratio of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid to omega-6 arachidonic acid fatty acids. Neither perceived stress, depression, nor fatty acids were associated with prenatal BMI. CRP levels were positively associated with BMI (beta = 6.56, t = 13.30, p < .001). The prevalence of high-risk levels of CRP (> 3 mg/L) was below 10% for all weight classes except for BMI ≥ 40. Results suggest that BMI may not be a sensitive index of adiposity related risk to prenatal health for Black women.