Associations between Gestational Weight Gain Adequacy and Neonatal Outcomes in Tanzania

Of 7,561 women studied, 51% had severely inadequate or inadequate gestational weight gain.

• Severely inadequate gestational weight gain (<70%) is associated with an increased risk of low birthweight, small-for-gestational age, stunting at birth, and microcephaly.
• Adequate gestational weight gain (90 to <125%) is linked to better neonatal outcomes compared to severely inadequate weight gain.
• Excessive gestational weight gain (≥125%) is associated with a higher risk of large-for-gestational age infants and macrosomia.
• Data highlights a need for interventions to support optimal weight gain during pregnancy to potentially prevent adverse neonatal outcomes.

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