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Effectiveness of nutrition counseling in managing gestational weight gain and infant outcomes: a retrospective cohort study

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Gestational weight gain (GWG) plays a crucial role in maternal and fetal health outcomes during pregnancy. Excessive weight gain is associated with various complications, emphasizing the importance of effective management strategies. Nutrition counseling has been proposed as a promising intervention to optimize GWG and improve maternal and infant outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition counseling for pregnant women experiencing unfavorable weight gain during pregnancy, who were referred to a registered dietitian at health centers in Iran. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Fars Province, Iran, involving pregnant women with unfavorable weight gain patterns referred to health centers between April 1, 2019, and November 20, 2023. Participants received either nutrition counseling or standard care. Data on maternal weight gain, infant anthropometric measurements, and counseling sessions were collected from the Integrated Health System. RESULTS: Among 565 enrolled pregnant women, 279 received nutrition counseling. Among pregnant women who experienced unfavorable weight gain and received nutritional counseling, 52.3% successfully attained a desirable weight gain. However, there was no significant difference in the hazard ratio of abnormal weight gain during pregnancy between the two groups. Additionally, no significant association were found in infant birth weight, length, or head circumference between the counseling and non-counseling groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional counseling improved weight gain trajectories in pregnant women, with more achieving desirable weight gain. However, no significant differences were found in neonatal outcomes. Further studies are needed to refine intervention strategies. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
DOI: 10.1186/s40795-025-01035-z
Authors: Marzieh Zare, Alireza Olyaeemanesh, Parisa Torabi, Sepideh Dolati, Hossein Fallah, Mitra Zabihi, Malihe Jafari, Elham Kavoosi, Farnaz Baghban, Zeinab Shahsavani, Maryam Maharat, Ahmad Esmaillzadeh, Hossein Farshidi, Razieh Tabaeifard, Leila Azadbakht
Institutions: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, University of Tehran, Health Equity Research Center, National Institute of Health Researches of Iran, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Diabetes Research Center
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,290
OpenAlex ID: W4408339072
FWCI: 2.616
Cites: 26
Cited by: 3
Related to: 10