ACOG Study Reveals: Only Half of Initial Prenatal Visits Address Gestational Weight Gain Discussions

The study revealed that discussion of gestational weight gain occurred in only half of first-time obstetric visits, most often brought up by the provider. The findings were presented at the annual clinical and scientific meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“Weight can be a challenging and sensitive topic at a healthcare visit. Providers discussed weight gain recommendations in less than half of conversations," Malini Harinath, an undergraduate research assistant at Magee-Women’s Research Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, told attendees.

The researchers analyzed an existing dataset of audio-recorded first obstetric visits to determine how often gestational weight gain was brought up, who initiated the discussion, whether ACOG guidelines were discussed, and the provider’s comments.

The researchers reported the following findings:

· Among 150 visits, half (50%) involved discussion of weight, with patients bringing it up 24% of the time and providers bringing it up 72% of the time.

· In the other 3% of visits, it was brought up by a third party, such as a partner or other family member with the patient.

· Only two of those visits mentioned body mass index (BMI) specifically, and ACOG guidelines on gestational weight gain were brought up in only six visits (8% of the visits where weight was mentioned).

· Mention of recommendations on gestational weight gain was more frequent, coming up in nearly half (46.7%) of the visits where weight was mentioned, though that was still just 23% of all visits.

· Concern about weight was brought up in 25.3% of visits where weight was discussed, and the provider’s reassurance to the patient occurred in about a third (32%) of those visits. General comments about the patient’s body occurred in 16% of visits, such as a clinician saying.

Ms. Harinath intends to look in future research at whether patient race or BMI are associated with the frequency and content of gestational weight gain conversations and to explore how patients react to different ways that discussion of weight is brought up.

As the field of obstetrics continues to evolve, studies like this serve as a wake-up call to prioritize holistic prenatal care that encompasses essential discussions about gestational weight gain and other critical aspects of maternal well-being.