Associations between Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle Behaviors, Pregnancy-Related Determinants, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence among Pregnant Women: The GESTAFIT Project

We examined sociodemographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, and pregnancy-related determinants associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) during pregnancy. A total of 152 Caucasian pregnant women were included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary habits and MD adherence were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Physical activity (PA) levels and physical fitness (PF) components (cardiorespiratory fitness, relative muscle strength, and flexibility) were objectively measured. A clustered overall PF index was calculated. Participants with a high MD adherence were older, had a lower body mass index (BMI), spent more time in moderate-vigorous PA, had a greater overall PF, cardiorespiratory fitness, and relative muscle strength compared to participants with low MD adherence (all, p < 0.05). When we explored factors associated with improved MD adherence with logistic regression analysis, we found that the following factors: lower pre-pregnancy BMI (OR = 2.337; p = 0.026), meeting PA recommendations (OR = 2.377; p = 0.045), higher relative muscle strength (OR = 2.265; p = 0.016), and higher overall PF (OR = 5.202; p = 0.004) increased the chances to adhere to the MD. Older age, lower BMI, greater PF, and meeting PA recommendations were associated with higher MD adherence. These factors should be considered for a better design of educational programs and guidelines focused on improving materno-fetal health status during pregnancy.

Automated summary

Older age, lower body mass index (BMI), higher physical fitness levels, and meeting physical activity recommendations are associated with higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy.