Association between body shape satisfaction and nutrient intake among pregnant Japanese women

<p>Purpose</p><p>Body shape satisfaction has drawn attention as a factor related to dietary behavior. However, the association between body shape satisfaction and nutrient intake during pregnancy has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between body shape satisfaction and nutrient intake among Japanese pregnant women.</p><p>Methods</p><p>This cross-sectional study was conducted at a general hospital in Osaka, Japan, between March and November 2020. We recruited women with singleton pregnancies in their second or third trimesters. Information on demographic characteristics, body shape satisfaction, fetal attachment, and depression was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Based on the responses regarding body shape satisfaction, participants were classified into three groups: “satisfied,” “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,” and “dissatisfied.” Nutrient intake was assessed using a validated diet history questionnaire. Covariance analysis was performed with energy-adjusted intake based on the density method as the dependent variable. Second- and third-trimester analyses were conducted separately to account for gestational age-related differences in nutritional recommendations.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 99 and 101 women in their second and third trimesters, respectively, were included in the analysis. Among those in the second trimester, 18 (18.2%), 42 (42.5%), and 39 (39.4%) constituted the “satisfied,” “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,” and “dissatisfied” groups, respectively. Of those in the third trimester, 26 (25.7%), 32 (31.7%), and 43 (42.6%) occupied the “satisfied,” “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,” and “dissatisfied” groups, respectively. In the second trimester, no association was observed between body shape satisfaction and nutrient intake. However, among women in the third trimester, the “dissatisfied” group had significantly lower intakes of the following nutrients: fat, dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, α-tocopherol, vitamin B₁, vitamin B₆, and folate.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Body shape dissatisfaction was associated with a lower energy-adjusted intake of several key nutrients in the third trimester. Healthcare professionals may need to consider body shape dissatisfaction when providing nutritional guidance to pregnant women.</p>