Study: Health and Getting Pregnant – Diet, Weight, and Physical Activity

Difficulties getting pregnant are affecting more and more Brazilians. According to the Brazilian Society of Assisted Reproduction, 8 million people are unable to achieve this dream. The causes of infertility are diverse, but among them, there are some factors couples themselves can influence. These include diet and physical activity. But do these factors actually have an impact on fertility?

To answer these questions and assess the extent of the problem, Trocando Fraldas conducted a survey with more than 5,000 women who have had or currently have difficulties getting pregnant throughout Brazil, between August 6 and 9, using a questionnaire. The participants responded voluntarily, indicating age, place of residence, and family situation, which made it possible to compare by region and state.

Questions

The following questions were asked:

• How long did it take you to get pregnant or how long have you been trying?
• On a scale from 1 to 5, how healthy do you consider your diet when trying to conceive?
• On a scale from 1 to 5, how healthy do you consider your partner’s diet when trying?
• On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate your weight while trying?
• On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate your partner’s weight while trying?
• During attempts to conceive, on how many days per week do/did you eat fruits and vegetables?
• During attempts to conceive, on how many days per week does/did your partner eat fruits and vegetables?
• During attempts to conceive, on how many days per week do/did you engage in physical activity?
• During attempts to conceive, on how many days per week does/did your partner engage in physical activity?

Results

To compare groups, regions, and states, responses were converted into indexes and applied on an individual scale. For diet in general and overweight, the denominator used was 2, considering 3 (healthy and normal weight) as reference values. For fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity, the national average served as the reference denominator.

General Diet and Getting Pregnant

• The average assessment from mothers, pregnant women, and those trying to conceive indicates their diet during attempts was or is 15% below what they consider healthy
• Diet quality improves with age, with women aged 40 to 44 rating their diet as 27% healthier than women aged 18 to 24
• Mothers and pregnant women who took less than 3 months to conceive have a diet 29% healthier than women who have not succeeded within that timeframe. The same applies to their partners, though the difference is only 12%.
• Concern for diet among couples increases during the first 12 months of trying and decreases after, but never reaches the level of those who conceive in 3 months or less.
• Partners’ diet is considered 5% better than women’s, but is still not healthy and diet quality also increases with age
• Diet is best in the South region and worst in the Central-West among couples trying to conceive

Healthy Diet Indicator for Couples Trying to Conceive by State