Caught Between External Pressures and Internal Battles: Psychosocial Factors Affecting Gestational Weight Gain – A Scoping Review

Many physical factors (including maternal comorbidities) affecting gestational weight gain (GWG) have been widely studied; however, the psychosocial aspects pertaining to this need to be put under the microscope, especially in countries characterized by low indicators of socioeconomic development. Gaining and maintaining an adequate amount of weight during pregnancy is important to prevent premature deliveries, fetal demise, fetal macrosomia, shoulder dystocia during delivery, emergency cesarean sections, postpartum weight retention, childhood obesity, etc. A scoping review of the articles published in the last five years has revealed that perinatal outcomes like gestational weight are influenced by certain psychosocial factors, including, but not limited to, intimate partner violence, lack of social support and recognition, financial distress, household food insecurity, chronic stress and depression related to pregnancy, eating pathologies, and low self-esteem. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, which involves seeking the help of psychiatrists/psychologists, obstetricians, nutritionists, and public health specialists, can help us mitigate undesirable outcomes related to inadequate and excessive weight gain during pregnancy. More intervention-based research focusing on psychosocial factors relating to GWG is needed in regions like South Asia, which is associated with low indicators of socioeconomic development.