The Influence of Body Mass Index on the Perceived Quality of Life during Pregnancy

Obesity contributes to various pregnancy complications and therefore, may compromise maternal quality of life. The study aim was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during pregnancy. Study involved every 6th woman who gave birth in the Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Center of Serbia during the year 2010. Initial and end pregnancy BMIs were calculated for every woman. The parturients (604) completed the SF36 questionnaire (physical-PHC; mental-MHC; total quality of life-TQL), Beck’s Depression Inventory, Fatigue Severity Scale, Pregnancy Symptom Scale, Multidimensional Personal Support Scale, and Acceptance of Illness Scale. Before pregnancy most women had normal or decreased weight, while at the end of pregnancy the majority were overweight or obese (p = 0.000). Initial and end pregnancy weights (p < 0.05) and BMIs (p < 0.05) were positively correlated with depression. Depression was significantly lower in overweight compared to mildly or morbidly obese women during pregnancy (p < 0.05). Pregnancy weight change correlated negatively with PHC (p = 0.029), and positively with fatigue (p = 0.030), and symptoms (p = 0.011). Of all BMI categories, morbidly obese women had the worst feeling of social support (p < 0.05). Pregnancy symptoms were significantly less problematic in women with normal weight compared to overweight and obese women during pregnancy (p < 0.05). Assessing the impact of all investigated parameters together, we established significant models for PHC (p = 0.036), depression (p = 0.030), and fatigue (p = 0.038). Pregnant women should be advised to keep their gestational weight gain within the normal recommended range to have a good pregnancy outcome and HRQoL.