Excess pregnancy weight gain and long-term obesity: one decade later

doi:10.1016/S0029-7844(02)02125-7

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Volume 100, Issue 2, August 2002, Pages 245-252

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(02)02125-7 Get rights and content

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To estimate the impact of excess pregnancy weight gain and failure to lose weight by 6 months postpartum on excess weight 8–10 years later.

METHODS:

Seven hundred ninety-five women were observed through pregnancy and 6 months postpartum to examine factors that affect weight loss. Weight was recorded 10 years later through a medical record review to examine the impact of retained weight on long-term obesity. Overall weight change at last follow-up and body mass index (BMI) were examined by pregnancy weight gain appropriateness according to the Institute of Medicine guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy.

RESULTS:

Of the original cohort, 540 women had a documented weight beyond 5 years (mean = 8.5 years). The average weight gain from prepregnancy to follow-up was 6.3 kg. There was no difference in weight gain by prepregnancy BMI. Women who gained less than the recommended amount during their pregnancy were 4.1 kg heavier at follow-up, those gaining the recommended amount were 6.5 kg heavier, and those gaining more than recommended were 8.4 kg heavier (P = .01). Women who lost all pregnancy weight by 6 months postpartum were 2.4 kg heavier at follow-up than women with retained weight, who weighed 8.3 kg more at follow-up (P = .01). Women who breast-fed and women who participated in aerobic exercise also had significantly lower weight gains.

CONCLUSION:

Excess weight gain and failure to lose weight after pregnancy are important and identifiable predictors of long-term obesity. Breast-feeding and exercise may be beneficial to control long-term weight.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

The original study was conducted at the Gundersen Clinic, Ltd. and Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from April 1, 1989 to March 30, 1990 and had full institutional review board approval. Methods and results from this study are described in detail elsewhere and are summarized briefly below.16 A convenience sample of women with uncomplicated pregnancies were observed from their first prenatal visit through their pregnancy until 6 months postpartum. Ninety-seven percent of the

Results

Of the 795 women included in the previous study, 540 (68%) continued their care at our clinic and had a weight available 5–10 years after their study pregnancy. Because we were mainly interested in the long-term changes in weight, women without weight measures beyond 5 years were excluded from the analysis. The women that did not continue care at our clinic were about 1 year younger, started prenatal care about 2 weeks later, were slightly more likely to be obese, but were more likely to have

Discussion

The results from this study show that excess weight gain during pregnancy and failure to lose weight after pregnancy are important predictors of long-term weight changes and higher BMI many years after a pregnancy. In addition, our study revealed that although breast-feeding may not have an immediate short-term weight loss benefit for the mother, at long-term follow-up, women who breast-fed their child for at least 3 months had a significantly lower weight gain over an average of 8.5 years.

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^☆: The Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation supported this work.

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Original researchExcess pregnancy weight gain and long-term obesity: one decade later☆

Abstract

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Results

Discussion

Obstet Gynecol

Am J Clin Nutr

J Am Diet Assoc

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs

Obstet Gynecol

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Obstet Gynecol

The spread of the obesity epidemic in the United States, 1991-1998

JAMA

Increasing prevalence of overweight among Wisconsin adults, 1989-1998

WMJ

Body fat distribution and 5-year risk of death in older women

JAMA

Weight, weight change and coronary heart disease in women. Risk within the ‘normal’ weight range

JAMA

Body weight and mortality among women

N Engl J Med

Original research
Excess pregnancy weight gain and long-term obesity: one decade later☆