Body image in pregnant women: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Objectives To compare body attitudes, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, anxiety and body mass index (BMI) of pregnant women at different times during pregnancy, as well as to verify the influence that these variables have on body attitudes in the first, second and third trimester. Methods We included 17 pregnant women who attended prenatal care in the city of Juiz de Fora-MG, between 22 to 41 years old (mean 30.76 ± 5.65 years old), excluding those with incomplete data. The assessments instruments were: Body Attitudes Questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test-26, Beck Depression Inventory, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the short version of the Brazilian State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and sociodemographic questionnaire. In addition, anthropometric and obstetric data were collected. Descriptive, comparative and correlational statistical analyses were performed. Results The BMI, negative body attitudes and the “feeling fat” increased progressively throughout pregnancy (p < 0.01). Eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety-state did not differ in these three conditions (p > 0.05). In addition, BMI explained 31% of the variance of negative body attitudes in the first trimester, while eating attitudes were responsible for 30% e 46% of body attitudes in the second and third trimester, respectively. Conclusions The body attitudes, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety remained constant throughout pregnancy. BMI and eating attitudes influenced the body image in pregnant women. It was suggested the creation of specific instruments in order to better understand the body concerns of pregnant women.