Nutritional Status and Associated Factors Among Women in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Objective Pregnant women in their third trimester require adequate nutritional intake for a healthy delivery. However, nutritional intake status during this period remains poorly understood. This study aimed to clarify the nutritional intake of pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy and identify related factors. Materials and Methods This study examined the dietary status of 291 women who gave birth in the Tohoku region of Japan in the third trimester of pregnancy. Results The study found that compared to the Japanese Dietary Intake Standards (2020), 99.7% of pregnant women consumed excessive amounts of salt, 82.5% consumed saturated fat and 89.0% did not consume enough iron. It was also found that pregnant women with higher education levels and a normal pre‐pregnancy body mass index (BMI) tend to have ideal eating habits. A negative correlation was observed between pre‐pregnancy BMI and weight gain during pregnancy (partial r = −0.336, p < 0.001), indicating that the necessary nutrients are insufficient to suppress excessive weight gain. Conclusion This study shows that pregnant women in their third trimester require personalized and appropriate nutritional support to ensure both weight gain control and adequate nutritional intake.