Pregnancy is viewed by some women as a high risk stage of life for the development of obesity. Yet few studies of postpartum weight retention have followed women for as long as two years postpartum. A sample of 622 healthy, adult women who enrolled for prenatal care at Bassett Healthcare was followed from early pregnancy until two years postpartum. Women completed mailed questionnaires during pregnancy and at 6, 12, and 24 months postpartum; information was extracted from their medical records shortly after delivery; and women were weighed during pregnancy and at one and two years postpartum. Body weights were available for approximately 90% of all women at two years postpartum. Fourteen percent of the women in the original sample had two infants in the follow-up period and were excluded from the analysis presented here. At two years postpartum, mean weight retention was approximately 4 pounds, but ranged from -38 to +71 pounds. At two years postpartum, 40% of women had returned to their pre-pregnancy weight or less and 24% were 10 pounds or more heavier than they were in early pregnancy. Weight retention at one year was significantly related to weight retention at two years (p<0.0001). The relative risk of being obese at two years postpartum if the mother was obese at one year was approximately 25 (95% CI: 11,56), with 64% of the women who were obese at one year remaining obese at two years.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe, in quantitative terms, weight retention at two years postpartum; 2. Describe the relationship of weight retention and obesity at one year postpartum to these phenomena at two years postpartum.
Keywords: Women's Health, Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.