Researchers studied 653 pregnant women across China to see what they were eating and whether they were getting enough nutrients. They found that both women in cities and rural areas weren’t eating enough healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, fish, and dairy products. Instead, they were eating too much meat and cooking oil. Even when women took vitamin supplements, many were still missing important nutrients like calcium, iron, and B vitamins. The problem was worse in rural areas than in cities. This research shows that pregnant women in China need better guidance on what to eat to stay healthy during pregnancy.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether pregnant women in cities and rural areas of China were eating enough healthy foods and getting all the nutrients they needed for a healthy pregnancy.
  • Who participated: 653 healthy pregnant women in their second or third trimester (middle to late pregnancy) from cities and rural areas across 2 major cities and 11 provinces in China.
  • Key finding: Both urban and rural pregnant women were not eating enough vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs, dairy, and beans. Between 13.5% and 99.2% of women weren’t getting enough of important vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, B vitamins, calcium, and iodine. Rural women had worse nutrition than city women.
  • What it means for you: If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant in China, you may need to pay more attention to eating a wider variety of healthy foods, especially vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Even taking supplements may not be enough if your diet isn’t balanced. This finding is most important for women in rural areas.

The Research Details

Researchers collected information from 653 pregnant women at one point in time (a snapshot study, not following them over months). The women kept a 4-day food diary online and used a picture guide to help them record exactly what they ate and drank. The researchers then compared what urban pregnant women ate versus what rural pregnant women ate. They used statistical tests to see if the differences were real and meaningful.

The study looked at whether women were eating enough of different food groups (like vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, dairy) and whether they were getting enough energy and important nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals. They compared what the women actually ate to official Chinese guidelines for what pregnant women should eat.

This type of study is important because it shows real-world eating patterns of pregnant women across a large country with different regions and lifestyles. By comparing cities and rural areas, researchers can see where nutrition problems are biggest and where to focus health programs. Understanding what pregnant women actually eat (not just what doctors recommend) helps create better, more realistic nutrition guidance.

This study is fairly reliable because it included a large number of women (653) from many different parts of China, making the results more representative. The women recorded their food intake for 4 days, which is a reasonable way to capture typical eating patterns. However, because this is a snapshot study (not following women over time), we can’t say for certain that these eating patterns cause health problems—we can only see that they exist. The study relied on women remembering and accurately reporting what they ate, which can sometimes be inaccurate.

What the Results Show

The research found a major problem: pregnant women in both cities and rural areas weren’t eating balanced diets. Almost all women (between 13.5% and 99.2%, depending on the nutrient) weren’t getting enough of at least one important nutrient. The most common shortages were vitamin A, B vitamins (B1, B6, and B9/folate), calcium, magnesium, and iodine.

At the same time, women were eating too much meat and cooking oil. They weren’t eating enough vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, and nuts. This means their diets were unbalanced—too much of some foods and not enough of others.

The energy (calorie) and protein intake was also inadequate for many women. Additionally, the balance between carbohydrates and fats wasn’t right—women were getting too many calories from fat and not enough from carbohydrates.

Rural women had worse nutrition than city women across almost all measurements. This suggests that rural pregnant women face bigger challenges in accessing or affording healthy, diverse foods.

The study found that even when pregnant women took nutritional supplements (vitamins and minerals in pill form), many still weren’t getting enough nutrients from their diet alone. This suggests that supplements can’t completely fix a poor diet—eating the right foods is still essential. The problems were consistent across different stages of pregnancy (second and third trimesters), meaning these eating patterns were typical for these women throughout their pregnancy.

This research adds to existing knowledge by showing that nutritional problems during pregnancy are widespread in China and vary significantly between urban and rural areas. Previous studies have shown that poor nutrition during pregnancy can affect both the mother’s health and the baby’s development, so these findings are concerning. The study provides updated, nationwide data that can help guide new health programs and nutrition education in China.

This study took a snapshot of what women ate during just 4 days, so it may not represent their typical eating patterns year-round. Women had to remember and report what they ate, which can be inaccurate. The study only included healthy pregnant women, so it doesn’t include women with existing health problems. Because this is a cross-sectional study (not following women over time), we can’t prove that these eating patterns actually cause health problems—we can only see that they exist together. The study was done in China, so the results may not apply to pregnant women in other countries with different food availability and cultures.

The Bottom Line

Pregnant women in China should eat a more diverse diet that includes more vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, and nuts. They should eat less meat and cooking oil. Taking prenatal vitamins is helpful, but it shouldn’t replace eating a balanced diet. Healthcare providers should create specific, practical nutrition plans for pregnant women, especially in rural areas. Women should work with doctors or nutritionists to make sure they’re getting all the nutrients they need. Confidence level: High—this recommendation is based on clear evidence of widespread nutrient deficiencies.

This research is most important for pregnant women in China, especially those in rural areas. Healthcare providers, midwives, and public health officials in China should use this information to create better nutrition education programs. Women planning to become pregnant should also pay attention to these findings. This research is less directly applicable to pregnant women in other countries, though the general principle of eating a balanced diet applies everywhere.

Improving diet during pregnancy can help immediately by providing nutrients the baby needs for development right now. However, some benefits (like better bone development in the baby) take months to show. Women who improve their diet should expect to feel better and have more energy within a few weeks, but the full health benefits for both mother and baby may not be clear until after birth and in the baby’s early years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of each food group (vegetables, fruits, fish, dairy, beans, nuts) against Chinese dietary guidelines. Set a goal to eat at least 5 different food groups per day and log which ones you achieved. This creates a simple visual reminder of dietary balance.
  • Use the app to plan meals 3 days in advance, ensuring each day includes at least one serving of fish or shellfish, one dairy product, one vegetable, one fruit, and one bean or nut-based food. The app could send reminders to ‘add a vegetable’ or ‘include dairy today’ to help users build balanced eating habits.
  • Weekly review of food group completion rates and monthly comparison of nutrient intake estimates against recommended levels. Users could photograph meals for visual tracking and receive feedback on dietary balance. For rural users with limited internet, a simplified weekly checklist version could be offered.

This research describes nutritional patterns in pregnant women in China and should not be used as personal medical advice. Pregnant women should consult with their healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to their diet or supplement routine. Individual nutritional needs vary based on age, health status, and other factors. This study is observational and cannot prove that specific eating patterns cause health outcomes. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, work with your healthcare team to develop a nutrition plan tailored to your specific needs.