The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences has established both gestational weight gain guidelines (2009), and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for pregnancy (2002/2005). The gestational weight gain guidelines are based on the prepregnancy weight status and the DRIs are for each trimester. Both references, however, aim to maximize the optimal health outcomes for both the mother and her baby. Limited data are available on the validation of self-reported prepregnancy anthropometrics and coherence between the two national guidelines for pregnancy. Our goal was to validate pregnant women's self-reported prepregnancy weight status and identify dietary determinants for achieving gestational weight gain guidelines. The validation of self-reported prepregnancy weight status of pregnant women was determined by drawing an inference from linear regression between self-reported and measured weight status of age-comparable non-pregnant women. Dietary quality during pregnancy was determined by nutrient density, nutrient adequacy, and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2005 and then with the gestational weight gain, in the U.S. representative population. We concluded that prepregnancy weight status classified by self-reported height and weight is valid for group data, and adequate intake of selected nutrients, dark green and orange vegetables and legumes. The adequate consumption of total grains, especially whole grains, was associated with healthy gestational weight gain.
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