Background Studies have reported a significant association between pregravid weight gain and the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in various populations. The current study aims to investigate this relationship using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.
Methods We conducted a retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study, involving 159,798 women who gave birth between 2015 and 2017 and had undergone two national health screening examinations: 1 year (index checkup) and 3 years before (baseline checkup) their respective estimated conception date. Participants were categorized into five groups based on the extent of weight change between the two examinations: more than 10%, 5% to 10%, –5% to 5% (reference group), –10% to –5%, and more than –10%. The study assessed the association between pregravid weight change and GDM risk.
Results Among the 146,363 women analyzed, 11,012 (7.52%) were diagnosed with GDM. Multiple regression analysis revealed that women who gained 5% to 10% of their weight had a 12% increased risk of GDM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.17), while those who gained ≥10% had a 34% higher risk (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.43). Notably, pregravid weight gain was particularly associated with GDM risk in non-obese or non-metabolic syndrome groups at index checkup.
Conclusion Pregravid weight gain showed a dose-dependent association with a higher risk of GDM. This association was more pronounced in non-obese individuals emphasizing the importance of minimizing pregravid weight gain for GDM prevention, even in non-obese women.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Advancing Early Prediction of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Circular RNA Biomarkers Joon Ho Moon, Sung Hee Choi Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2025; 49(3): 403. CrossRef
Background Although obesity differs according to ethnicity, it is globally established as a solid risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, it is not fully understood how obesity parameters affect the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in Korean population. We sought to evaluate the association of obesity-related parameters including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measurement and CAC progression.
Methods This retrospective observational cohort study investigated 1,015 asymptomatic Korean subjects who underwent serial CAC scoring by computed tomography (CT) with at least 1-year interval and adipose tissue measurement using non-contrast CT at baseline for a routine checkup between 2003 and 2015. CAC progression, the main outcome, was defined as a difference of ≥2.5 between the square roots of the baseline and follow-up CAC scores using Agatston units.
Results During follow-up (median 39 months), 37.5% of subjects showed CAC progression of a total population (56.4 years, 80.6% male). Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, increasing waist circumferences (WC), and higher VAT/subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) area ratio were independently associated with CAC progression. Particularly, predominance of VAT over SAT at ≥30% showed the strongest prediction for CAC progression (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.20; P<0.001) and remained of prognostic value regardless of BMI or WC status. Further, it provided improved risk stratification of CAC progression beyond known prognosticators.
Conclusion Predominant VAT area on CT is the strongest predictor of CAC progression regardless of BMI or WC in apparently healthy Korean population. Assessment of body fat distribution may be helpful to identify subjects at higher risk.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
A review of cutting-edge biomarkers for diagnosing coronary artery disease Pouria Azami, Sahand Mohammadzadeh, Soroush Seirafi, Iman Razeghian-Jahromi Medicine.2025; 104(4): e41377. CrossRef
The Close Link Between Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease Heesun Lee, Tae-Min Rhee, Ji Min Choi, Su-Yeon Choi, Dong Wook Kim Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America.2025; 54(1): 175. CrossRef
Gender-specific abdominal fat distribution and insulin resistance associated with organophosphate esters and phthalate metabolites exposure Xiaoliu Shi, Wanyue Wang, Jiafan Feng, Xiaochun Ma, Mengting Xu, Cui Wang Environmental Pollution.2024; 349: 123959. CrossRef
The association between C-reactive protein and coronary artery calcification: a systematic review and meta-analysis Amirhossein Tajani, Masoumeh Sadeghi, Navid Omidkhoda, Amir Hooshang Mohammadpour, Sara Samadi, Vahid Jomehzadeh BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Visceral Obesity and Its Association with Severe Coronary Artery Calcification in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Min Kyu Kang, Jeung Eun Song, Young Oh Kweon, Won Young Tak, Soo Young Park, Yu Rim Lee, Jung Gil Park Diagnostics.2024; 14(20): 2305. CrossRef
From Cells to Plaques: The Molecular Pathways of Coronary Artery Calcification and Disease Andreas Mitsis, Elina Khattab, Evi Christodoulou, Kimon Myrianthopoulos, Michael Myrianthefs, Stergios Tzikas, Antonios Ziakas, Nikolaos Fragakis, George Kassimis Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(21): 6352. CrossRef
Visceral adipose tissue is an independent predictor and mediator of the progression of coronary calcification: a prospective sub-analysis of the GEA study Neftali Eduardo Antonio-Villa, Juan Gabriel Juárez-Rojas, Rosalinda Posadas-Sánchez, Juan Reyes-Barrera, Aida Medina-Urrutia Cardiovascular Diabetology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Deep learning-based prediction for significant coronary artery stenosis on coronary computed tomography angiography in asymptomatic populations Heesun Lee, Bong Gyun Kang, Jeonghee Jo, Hyo Eun Park, Sungroh Yoon, Su-Yeon Choi, Min Joo Kim Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Relationship between a novel non–insulin-based metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS‐IR) and coronary artery calcification Zhenwei Wang, Xiaofang Hui, Xu Huang, Jingjie Li, Naifeng Liu BMC Endocrine Disorders.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Association Between Abdominal Adipose Tissue Distribution and Risk of Endometrial Cancer: A Case-Control Study Yuan Cheng, Zhongyu Wang, Xiaoxuan Jia, Rong Zhou, Jianliu Wang Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Sex differences in cardiovascular risk may be related to sex differences in diet patterns: a narrative review A. M. Tindall, V. A. Stallings Annals of Human Biology.2021; 48(6): 517. CrossRef