Associations between the Planetary Health Diet in Late Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with a Raised BMI: Insights from the PEARS Study.
4 affiliations
- 1UCD Perinatal Research Centre, UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
- 2National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
- 3School of Biological, Health and Sports Sciences, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- 4College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
Background
Diet quality in pregnancy is a modifiable factor with important implications for maternal and neonatal outcomes. The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), designed to promote both human health and environmental sustainability, has not been comprehensively evaluated in high-risk obstetric populations.Objectives
This study aimed to examine the PHD in a pregnant cohort with a raised body mass index (BMI) and its associations with pregnancy outcomes, hypothesizing that greater adherence is associated with more favorable pregnancy outcomes.Methods
This was a secondary analysis of data from the pregnancy exercise and nutrition research study with smartphone application support study. Pregnant women (n = 319) with a BMI ≥25 kg/m² an 11 d ≤39.9 kg/m² in early pregnancy were included in the analysis, and the cohort was dichotomized into "Low" (≤92.9) and "High" (>92.9) PHD Index (PHDI) groups based on the median score in late pregnancy (∼28 wk gestation). Differences in pregnancy outcomes between the "High" and "Low" groups were explored, with results adjusted for multiple testing.Results
In adjusted models, a "High" PHDI score was associated with a lower odds of preeclampsia and/or pregnancy-induced hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06, 0.68; P = 0.01), and a higher likelihood to initiate breastfeeding postpartum (adjusted OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.24; P = 0.04). In the adjusted model, those in the "High" PHDI group had a lower risk of delivering an infant born small for gestational age (SGA) (birthweight <10th centile) (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.10, 1.93, P = 0.04).Conclusions
: This diet is associated with lower odds of hypertensive outcomes among pregnant women with a raised BMI, while promoting more sustainable food choices. Greater adherence to the PHD is also associated with a lower risk of delivering an infant born SGA and higher breastfeeding initiation rates, highlighting its potential benefits beyond pregnancy.
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BibTeX
@article{davis2026associations,
title = {{Associations between the Planetary Health Diet in Late Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with a Raised BMI: Insights from the PEARS Study.}},
author = {Aoife Davis and Sophie Callanan and Gillian A Corbett and Eileen C O'Brien and Alexander P Douglass and Fionnuala M McAuliffe},
journal = {Current developments in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.109540},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898693},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Associations between the Planetary Health Diet in Late Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with a Raised BMI: Insights from the PEARS Study.
AU - Aoife Davis
AU - Sophie Callanan
AU - Gillian A Corbett
AU - Eileen C O'Brien
AU - Alexander P Douglass
AU - Fionnuala M McAuliffe
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/19
JO - Current developments in nutrition
DO - 10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.109540
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898693
AB - Background Diet quality in pregnancy is a modifiable factor with important implications for maternal and neonatal outcomes. The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), designed to promote both human health and environmental sustainability, has not been comprehensively evaluated in high-risk obstetric populations.Objectives This study aimed to examine the PHD in a pregnant cohort with a raised body mass index (BMI) and its associations with pregnancy outcomes, hypothesizing that greater adherence is associated with more favorable pregnancy outcomes.Methods This was a secondary analysis of data from the pregnancy exercise and nutrition research study with smartphone application support study. Pregnant women (n = 319) with a BMI ≥25 kg/m² an 11 d ≤39.9 kg/m² in early pregnancy were included in the analysis, and the cohort was dichotomized into "Low" (≤92.9) and "High" (>92.9) PHD Index (PHDI) groups based on the median score in late pregnancy (∼28 wk gestation). Differences in pregnancy outcomes between the "High" and "Low" groups were explored, with results adjusted for multiple testing.Results In adjusted models, a "High" PHDI score was associated with a lower odds of preeclampsia and/or pregnancy-induced hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06, 0.68; P = 0.01), and a higher likelihood to initiate breastfeeding postpartum (adjusted OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.24; P = 0.04). In the adjusted model, those in the "High" PHDI group had a lower risk of delivering an infant born small for gestational age (SGA) (birthweight <10th centile) (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.10, 1.93, P = 0.04).Conclusions : This diet is associated with lower odds of hypertensive outcomes among pregnant women with a raised BMI, while promoting more sustainable food choices. Greater adherence to the PHD is also associated with a lower risk of delivering an infant born SGA and higher breastfeeding initiation rates, highlighting its potential benefits beyond pregnancy.
SN - 2475-2991
ER -