Psychosocial factors relating to inadequate and excessive weight gain in pregnancy: A narrative, scoping review

Many physical factors affecting gestational weight gain have been studied, the psychosocial aspect of this needs to be looked under the microscope, especially in low socio-economic countries. A scoping review of the articles published in the last five years exhibits that perinatal outcomes like gestational weight are influenced by certain psychosocial factors, including but not limited to intimate partner violence, lack of social support and recognition, financial distress, household food insecurity, chronic stress and depression related to pregnancy, eating pathologies and low self-esteem. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach can help us mitigate undesirable outcomes of inadequate and excessive weight gain.