Eating behavior, body self-perception and emotional state in pregnant women from the southern cone of metropolitan Lima, 2003

Abstract

The objective of the present study has been to determine changes in eating conduct, corporal auto perception and emotional state in expectant mothers of the South Cone of Metropolitan Lima that attended the external consultation of Manuel Barreto Hospital, located in the district of San Juan de Miraflores, between the months of September to November 2003.
The type of study is observational analytic, partially retrospective and crossed, and responds to a correlation design. It devised a questionnaire, having in consideration the objectives of the study, the instrument previously validated complying methodological international demands.
The data were processed in a database, in order to analyzed it statistically with the SPSS version 11 pac kage, carrying out frequencies and percentages. Differences in percentages were analyzed by the chisquare test, and logistic regression was used to find variable predictors. Among the outstanding results we found, is the amount in food consumption, being gre. ater in first time mothers than in multiparous. Greater changes in eating conduct were seen in women with regular menstrual cycle. A decrease in preference of the sweet flavor is observed before and during pregnancy, with an increment in preferences for acid, bitter, and salty flavor. Corporal self-perception was higher before pregnancy than during pregnancy. With regards to emotional state changes, it should be noted that these were similar according to trimester, parity and menstrual cycle. Nevertheless, greater concern about pregnancy, labor and corporal figure in expectant mothers were found in women reported as having regular menstrual cycles. In conclusion, changes in emotional state and corporal self-perception are good predictors of changes in eating conduct.