Body mass index of pregnant women in the family health care unit.

Introduction: In Brazil, obesity is found in 25% to 30% of pregnancies. Objectives: To analyze the body mass index in the gestation of women attended at the Basic Health Unit; To identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity in pregnant women; To verify the gestational weight gain and to associate with the variables: age, marital status, gestational number, parity, pregestational weight and prenatal. Methodology: Quantitative, retrospective and descriptive study. Comprising 241 women who had gone under prenatal care, from 2013 to 2015. The Prevalence Coefficient (total number of overweight and obese pregnant women x 103/total number of pregnant women) was considered. Results: The prevalence rate of overweight and obesity was 34.54% in 2013; in 2014, of 43.61% and in 2015, of 41.34%. In the obstetric characteristics, they had a strong correlation with the total gestational weight gain at prenatal consultations and at gestational age, with a significance of P <0.0001. It was identified that the BMI of pregnant women ranged from 15.80 to 46.80 kg / m². Overweight was detected in 39.84% of pregnant women; 34.44% gained more weight than expected during gestation. While overweight 55.00% gained more weight than recommended and of those with obesity 54.77%. The correlation of pre-gestational BMI with the variables of the previous weight, the weight at the last visit and the total weight gain during pregnancy was strong with the BMI, P <0.0001. Conclusion: Inadequate nutritional status has been increasing over the years, strengthening the importance of a more comprehensive approach on the subject with pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]