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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #216616
Title: Health Behaviors Among Pregnant Latina Women at Risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Author
item GOLLENBERG, A - UNIV OF MASS, AMHERST
item PEKOW, P - UNIV OF MASS, AMHERST
item STRENFELD, B - KAISER PERMANENTE, CA
item MANSON, J - HARVARD UNIVERSITY
item SOLOMON, C - HARVARD UNIVERSITY
item MARKENSON, G - BAYSTATE MED CTR, MA
item Tucker, Katherine
item CHASAN-TABER, L - UNIV OF MASS, AMHERST

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2007
Publication Date: 6/18/2007
Citation: Gollenberg, A., Pekow, P., Strenfeld, B., Manson, J., Solomon, C., Markenson, G., Tucker, K., Chasan-Taber, L. 2007. Health Behaviors Among Pregnant Latina Women at Risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Meeting Abstract. 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research. Boston, MA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common complication of pregnancy, increases the risk of subsequent diabetes and obesity. Latina women have over twice the risk for developing GDM as compared to non-Latina white women. Health-promoting practices during pregnancy may improve metabolic status and decrease the risk of developing GDM. Therefore, we assessed health-related behaviors and associated factors in the Latina GDM Study, a prospective cohort of 1231 prenatal care patients. Self-reported information on diet, lifestyle factors, demographics, medical history, and physical activity (PA) were collected by bilingual interviewers in early and mid-pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of meeting guidelines for pregnancy PA (>/= 10 MET-hrs/wk), fruit/vegetable consumption (7 servings/day), as well as the use of cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy. Overall, 10% of women met the physical activity guidelines, 24% met the fruit/vegetable guidelines, 21% of women smoked and 1.4% consumed alcohol. In multivariate analyses, younger, English-speaking women, and those with a prior adverse pregnancy outcome were more likely to meet the PA guidelines. Older, more physically active, and non-smoking women were more likely to consume adequate fruits/vegetables. Low education, increased parity, alcohol and illicit drug use were associated with smoking in pregnancy. Neither history of GDM nor current GDM diagnosis was associated with meeting health-promoting guidelines. As the prevalence of GDM continues to rise, it becomes increasingly important to identify lifestyle behaviors that may modify the risk of developing this disorder.