Higher sweet beverage consumption was associated with increased gestational weight gain and birth weight: A Chinese cohort study.

• The dietary behavior of non-obese and obese pregnant women is different. • Ultra-processed dietary pattern was associated with increased gestational weight gain. • Sweet desserts and beverages promote excessive weight gain during pregnancy. • High beverage consumption was related to increased maternal and fetal weight gain. • Controlled sweetened beverage intake is a key target for pregnancy weight management. Diet during pregnancy is crucial to maternal metabolism and fetal development, so exploring the most potent food risk factor could improve maternal and child health. In this study, we investigated the diet and lifestyle of 833 healthy pregnant women in the second trimester from November 2020 to August 2021. Based on the Tianjin Antenatal Care System in China, we followed up with these women and recorded their gestational weight gain (GWG) and newborn birth weight. We conducted a dietary survey through FFQ based on the food groups recommended by the Chinese Dietary Guidelines and included common ultra-processed foods. We collected 219 semi-quantitative FFQs and 614 self-reported FFQs for analysis. According to the consumption frequency of 12 food groups, 4 dietary patterns were extracted by principal component analysis. We analyzed the associations of food energy, consumption frequency, and dietary patterns with GWG and birth weight, especially GWG in the first and second trimesters (f-GWG). The results showed that f-GWG was positively correlated with food energy. Beverage consumption was associated with f-GWG (r = 0.288, P =.026) in obese pregnant women. A dietary pattern that favors high consumption of ultra-processed foods (fried foods, baked desserts, and sweet beverages) was associated with increased GWGs. Non-obesity women with high consumption of baked desserts and sweet beverages had higher GWGs (P <.05). After adjusting for confounding factors (including total energy, physical activity, and sleep quality), only sweet beverage consumption was associated with f-GWG (β 0.498, 95%CI 0.153-0.843) and birth weight (β 0.124, 95%CI 0.009-0.240). Sweet beverage consumption is a key adjustable risk factor for prenatal care. Dietary survey was conducted through FFQ including the food recommended by the Chinese Dietary Guidelines and common ultra-processed foods. PCA extracted 4 dietary patterns from the 12 food groups. Women with an ultra-processed food dietary pattern gained more weight. Univariate analysis showed that baked desserts and sweet beverages were related to more weight gain. Multivariate analysis suggested higher sweet beverage consumption was associated with increased weight gain and birth weight. Abbreviations: FFQ, food frequency questionnaire; PCA, principal component analysis [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]