TABLE 1.
Characteristics of pregnant women by prepregnancy BMI category (n = 42)1
| Variable | Obese (n = 20) | Nonobese (n = 22) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternal age, y | 25.0 ± 6.6 | 27.0 ± 6.5 | 0.31 |
| Black or African American, % (n) | 65 (13) | 27 (6) | 0.02 |
| Hispanic or Latina, % (n) | 25 (5) | 32 (7) | 0.87 |
| Relationship status = single, % (n) | 65 (13) | 14 (3) | 0.001 |
| Employed full-time, % (n) | 60 (12) | 68 (15) | 0.58 |
| College graduate (≥4 y), % (n) | 15 (3) | 50 (11) | 0.02 |
| Receiving WIC benefits, % (n) | 65 (13) | 45 (10) | 0.20 |
| Receiving SNAP benefits, % (n) | 30 (6) | 32 (7) | 0.90 |
| Delivery BMI, kg/m2 | 39.5 ± 5.5 | 28.1 ± 4.1 | <0.0001 |
| Rate of gestational weight gain/wk, kg | 0.41 ± 0.32 | 0.44 ± 0.19 | 0.76 |
| Dietary and supplemental iron intake, mg (IQR) | 35.0 (19.8) | 49.6 (33.4) | 0.09 |
| Gravida | 2.5 ± 1.7 | 2.2 ± 1.3 | 0.56 |
| Gestational age at delivery, wk | 38.8 ± 1.5 | 38.9 ± 1.3 | 0.80 |
| C-section, % (n) | 40 (8) | 18 (4) | 0.17 |
| Infant birthweight, g | 3251 ± 550 | 3256 ± 445 | 0.97 |
| Infant sex = male, % (n) | 50 (10) | 50 (11) | 1.0 |
| Placenta weight, g | 473 ± 92.9 | 440 ± 89.2 | 0.25 |
1
Data are presented as means ± SDs unless otherwise indicated. Wilcoxon rank-sum and t tests were used to compare continuous variables, and χ2 and Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical variables between groups. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; WIC, Women, Infants, and Children.