Abstract
Introduction: Pregnant women experiencing poor nutritional status remains a problem which is still commonly found in Iraq. Poor nutritional status is one of the causes of increased mortality in pregnant women. Objective: Assess the nutrition status of pregnant women, and to determine the obese by nutrition and demographic variables Methods: A cross-sectional design study with 400 samples of pregnant women were collected. The sample distributed throughout (Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Maternity and Children's Teaching Hospital, and Samawah Primary Healthcare Sector). The data collection period starts on 21, December 2025 to 1, March 2026. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed to determine its internal consistency and stability. Result: The two primary variables that were substantially linked to a higher BMI were age and gravidity. The relationship between age group and BMI was statistically significant (p = 0.044). The incidence of overweight and obesity was lowest in the under-20 age group, while it was highest in women aged 20–34. This suggests that the bulk of this population's overweight and obese individuals are in the reproductive age range (20–34 years). BMI and gravidity were substantially correlated (p = 0.025). Compared to prim-gravida women, multigravida women were more likely to be overweight or obese. Conclusion: Pregnant women in Samawah are frequently overweight or obese, and these conditions are strongly linked to maternal age, gravidity, and progressing gestation. However, there was no significant correlation found between BMI and socioeconomic indicators or reported physical activity.