Changes in weight between pregnancies

This research project examines how changes in women’s weight between two pregnancies affect the risk of giving birth to a child with either low or high birth weight. 

The project aims to identify factors that increase the risk of large weight changes and thus affect the likelihood of low or high birth weight for the child in the second pregnancy.

Children born with low or high birth weight have a higher risk of obesity later in life, so there could be a potential for improved prevention of obesity.

The project consists of three sub-studies:

• Sub-study 1 looks at how the distribution of pregnant women in different weight categories has changed over time, as well as the frequency of significant weight changes between two pregnancies.
• Sub-study 2 investigates whether large weight changes between two pregnancies are related to the woman’s social background, mental well-being, and lifestyle during the first pregnancy.
• Sub-study 3 focuses on calculating the risk of giving birth to a child with either low or high birth weight if the woman’s weight changes significantly between the two pregnancies.

Background

The background for this project is that both low and high birth weights can have serious consequences for the child’s health later in life, including an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. 

Previous research also shows that a woman’s weight before and between pregnancies can affect the child’s birth weight. As the number of pregnant women with overweight increases, it is crucial to understand how weight changes may influence fetal growth, thereby improving health guidance for pregnant women.

Data will be gathered from 18,000 pregnant women in the Region of Southern Denmark and at Rigshospitalet.