Overweight and Obesity Associates With Diet Quality in Mothers of Newborn Babies

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether diet quality differs in women with normal weight (nw) and overweight or obesity (ow/ob) one month after delivery. METHODS: Data was collected with online questionnaires from early pregnancy until one month postpartum from a representative sample of women across Finland. Postpartum data (mean of 6.8 ± 1.9 weeks after delivery) was used in this study. Diet quality was measured with validated index of diet quality (IDQ, total score 0–15, scores ≥ 10 indicate good diet quality). In addition, IDQ components were evaluated by comparing to Finnish dietary recommendations. Ow/ob status was determined based on pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI, ≥25 kg/m(2)) calculated from self-reported weight and height. RESULTS: Of the women, 96% (331/346) were breastfeeding and 32% had ow/ob. Good diet quality was observed in 49% of the women. The IDQ scores were lower in ow/ob women compared to nw women (8.9 ± 2.3 and 9.6 ± 2.1 respectively, p = 0.006). Considering the IDQ components, the proportion of ow/ob women consuming vegetables, fruit and berries ≥ 5 servings/day was lower than that of nw women (28% and 40% respectively, p = 0.041). Moreover, ow/ob women were less likely to consume fruit and berries (41% and 62% respectively, P < 0.001) and whole grain products daily compared to nw women (63% and 76% respectively, p = 0.015). No differences in the consumption of vegetables daily, fish ≥ 2 servings/week and vegetable-oil based spread on bread as well as having a regular meal pattern (skipping ≤ 2 main meals/week) were seen between nw and ow/ob women. CONCLUSIONS: Only half of the women had good diet quality in this population of mainly breastfeeding women. The diet quality score of ow/ob women was lower and they consumed health-promoting foods less likely compared to nw women. Health-promoting diet of breastfeeding women is of vast importance considering impacts on breast milk composition as well as prevention of chronic lifestyle-related conditions including type 2 diabetes. FUNDING SOURCES: This material is based upon work supported by Business Finland. Personal support for EK from the Diabetes Research Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation (Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund), the Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation and the Juho Vainio Foundation.