ORCID
- Eileen C. O'Brien: 0000-0001-6187-4017
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.
Keywords
maternal pregnancy outcomes, neonatal outcomes, planetary health, pregnancy, sustainable diets
DOI Link
Publication Date
2026-01-01
Publication Title
Current Developments in Nutrition
Volume
10
Issue
10
Deposit Date
2026-10-30
Funding
The research was supported by University College Dublin, the National Maternity Hospital medical fund, and Research Ireland under Grant No. 22-FFA-10302.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Additional Links
Recommended Citation
Davis, A., Callanan, S., Corbett, G., O'Brien, E., Douglass, A., & McAuliffe, F. (2026) 'Associations between the Planetary Health Diet in Late Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with a Raised BMI: Insights from the PEARS Study', Current Developments in Nutrition, 10(10). Available at: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.109540