Correlation between Pregnancy Related Weight Gain, Postpartum Weight loss and Obesity: a Prospective Study

Abstract

Weight gain during pregnancy can be a real risk factor for long-term obesity which has implications in all areas of medicine. This study is designed to assess pregnancy-related weight gain and postpartum weight loss, to identify a possible correlation between weight gain during pregnancy and the risk of obesity in the late postpartum period. The batch comprised 306 women, hospitalized in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Section of the “Nicolae Malaxa” Clinical Hospital between June - November 2017. During this study, we assessed the weight status using the Weight, Body Mass Index, Height, and Abdominal Circumference. These parameters were clinically assessed in three periods pre-pregnancy, early postpartum period, late postpartum period. We also collected data on the evolution of the pregnancy using the anamnesis and the personal pregnancy monitoring sheet. Pregnancy and postpartum period represent a key moment in women’s lives in which the risk of obesity is real. Understanding women experiences with weight changes during pregnancy and postpartum period can improve the management of losing weight following pregnancy, avoid long-term weight gain and so reduce the risk for obesity. Also, the correct management of obesity should include the assessment of somatic disorders that may cause major dysfunction, requiring complex rehabilitation programs.

Prevalence and factors associated with underweight among 15–49-year-old women in Sierra Leone: A secondary Data Analysis of Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey of 2019

“…In many developing countries, being married provides women with more excellent nancial stability, which in turn works as a protective factor from being underweight [56,57]. Other factors, such as using contraceptive pills, and weight gain in the postpartum phase, are more likely to be more prevalent among married women in many countries' contexts [56,57].…”

“…In many developing countries, being married provides women with more excellent nancial stability, which in turn works as a protective factor from being underweight [56,57]. Other factors, such as using contraceptive pills, and weight gain in the postpartum phase, are more likely to be more prevalent among married women in many countries' contexts [56,57]. One study in Ethiopia showed that women's nutritional status is affected by lactation, family planning method utilization, lack of education, illnesses, and poor dietary habits [58].…”

Obesogenic diet in mice compromises maternal metabolic physiology and lactation ability leading to reductions in neonatal viability

“… 46 Furthermore, women who have an obesogenic diet and may or may not be overweight in their first pregnancy, are more likely to present as obese in subsequent pregnancies. 47 , 48 , 49 One paper looking at the rates of poor pregnancy outcomes in first and second pregnancies stratified risks by change in BMI units between pregnancies, found that most poor outcomes (including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and LGA) increased with weight gain of just one or two BMI units between pregnancies, independent of if the mother was overweight or not. 50 Another study found that raised maternal BMI in a first pregnancy with uncomplicated outcome still increased the risk of poor outcome in the second pregnancy, even if these women have normal BMI in second pregnancy.…”

Diastasis recti in the Beninese population: Cross-sectional study from normal values to diagnosis

“…Abdominal circumference was measured at the umbilicus using a tape measure (Nartea, Mitoiu & Nica 2019 ).…”

“…The measurement was taken using ultrasound as the distance between the superficial part of the skin and the rectus abdominis muscle. • Abdominal circumference was measured at the umbilicus using a tape measure (Nartea, Mitoiu & Nica 2019). • Weight and height were measured using a telescopic height scale; these measurements were used to determine the BMI.…”