Factors associated with post-partum weight retention in a cohort of women, 2005-2007

Objective: to investigate factors associated with post-partum weight retention. Methods: a cohort study with 104 recruited pregnant women in the 8th to 13th week of gestation was carried out at Basic Health Unit in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and the women were accompanied until around 55 days post-partum. The variables included socio-demographic, economic, biochemical, anthropometric and reproductive data. Post-partum weight retention (the difference between post partum and pre-gestational weight) was used as the dependent variable. Results: the mean weight retention was 3.2 kg ± 3.7 kg. Women with excessive gestational weight gain retained 5.0 kg ± 3.9 in comparison to 3.6 kg ± 3.0 in women with adequate gestational weight gain and 1.4 kg ± 3.1 compared to those with inadequate gestational weight gain. The gestational weight gain and pre-gestational body mass index continued to show a significant association with weight retention in the final model. It was found that for every kilogram of weight gain during gestation, almost 50% was retained post-partum (β = 0.494; p<0.001) and every 1.0 kg/m2 less in pre-gestational BMI corresponded to a retention of approximately 150g (β = -0.149; p<0.05). Conclusion: gestational weight gain is positively associated with post-partum weight retention, while pre-gestational BMI is inversely associated with the dependent variable. Nutritional advice on weight control may help minimize the incidence of obesity in women during post-partum

Fatores associados à retenção de peso pós-parto em uma coorte de mulheres, 2005-2007 Factors associated with post-partum weight retention in a cohort of women, 2005-2007

OBJETIVO: investigar fatores associados à retenção de peso pós-parto. MÉTODOS: estudo de coorte com 104 gestantes recrutadas em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde no município do Rio de Janeiro, da 8ª a 13ª semana de gestação e acompanhadas até aproximadamente 55 dias pós-parto. As variáveis incluíram informações sócio-demográficas, econômicas, bioquímicas, antropométricas e reprodutivas. A retenção de peso pós-parto (diferença entre o peso pós-parto e o peso pré-gestacional) foi utilizada como variável dependente. RESULTADOS: a média de peso retido foi 3,2 kg ± 3,7 kg. As mulheres com ganho de peso gestacional (GPG) excessivo retiveram 5,0 kg ± 3,9 em comparação a 3,6 kg ± 3,0 em mulheres com GPG adequado e 1,4 kg ± 3,1 para as com GPG insuficiente. O GPG e o Índice de Massa corporal (IMC) pré-gestacional mantiveram associação significativa com a retenção de peso no modelo final. Observou-se que a cada quilo de peso ganho na gestação, quase 50% ficaram retidos no pós-parto (&#946; = 0,494; p<0,001) e a cada 1,0 kg/m² a menos no IMC pré-gestacional correspondeu a uma retenção de aproximadamente 150g (&#946; = -0,149;p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: o GPG está positivamente e o IMC pré-gestacional inversamente associado à retenção de peso pós-parto. Orientações nutricionais sobre o controle do ganho ponderal podem ajudar a minimizar a incidência de obesidade entre mulheres no pós-parto.<br>OBJECTIVE: to investigate factors associated with post-partum weight retention. METHODS: a cohort study with 104 recruited pregnant women in the 8th to 13th week of gestation was carried out at Basic Health Unit in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and the women were accompanied until around 55 days post-partum. The variables included socio-demographic, economic, biochemical, anthropometric and reproductive data. Post-partum weight retention (the difference between postpartum andpre-gestational weight) was used as the dependent variable. RESULTS: the mean weight retention was 3.2 kg ± 3.7 kg. Women with excessive gestational weight gain retained 5.0 kg ± 3.9 in comparison to 3.6 kg ± 3.0 in women with adequate gestational weight gain and 1.4 kg ± 3.1 compared to those with inadequate gestational weight gain. The gestational weight gain and pre-gestational body mass index continued to show a significant association with weight retention in the final model. It was found that for every kilogram of weight gain during gestation, almost 50% was retained post-partum (&#946; = 0.494; p<0.001) and every 1.0 kg/m² less in pre-gestational BMI corresponded to a retention of approximately 150g (&#946; = -0.149; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: gestational weight gain is positively associated with post-partum weight retention, while pre-gestational BMI is inversely associated with the dependent variable. Nutritional advice on weight control may help minimize the incidence of obesity in women during post-partum