Abstract
Background: Adequate nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy are required to achieve optimum maternal and fetal outcomes. However, Black pregnant women in the UK are underrepresented in physical activity and dietary intake studies, despite their higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Research Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the macronutrient intake, physical activity levels and sleep of Black African pregnant women in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
Methods: Sixteen Black African women, 8 each in trimesters2 and 3 (32±4 years; 2nd trimester= 23.13±3.0 weeks; 3rdtrimester= 33.50±1.20 weeks) completed 4-day food diaries and wore ActiGraph GT9x accelerometers on their non-dominant wrists for 7days. Nutritics nutritional software was used to analyse the intakes of energy(kcal/day), total carbohydrates, free sugars, dietary fibre, protein, total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fatty acids. R using the GGIR package software was used to analyse the daily time in activity, sedentary time and sleep time. The differences between trimesters were determined using independent-samples-t-tests at a significance level ofp<0.05.
Results: Only free sugars intake increased in the 3rd trimester compared to the 2nd trimester. The intakes of energy and other macronutrients decreased in the 3rd trimester, with only total fat intake achieving statistical significance (MD =29.37± 12.72, p=0.04). The daily time in activity decreased in the3rd trimester compared to the 2nd. Time spent in light, moderate and vigorous activity reduced in the 3rd trimester, while sedentary and sleep time increased (p>0.05). Sleep efficiency also increased in the 3rd trimester compared to the2nd (p>0.05).
Discussion: The energy, macronutrient intake and physical activity levels of this cohort decreased in the 3rd trimester, and were lower than the recommended values for pregnancy. Women require support and information to achieve and maintain the recommended dietary intakes and physical activity levels throughout pregnancy.