Eating behaviors in relation to gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention: A systematic review

Abstract

Summary Preventing obesity is of utmost public health importance. This paper systematically reviews associations between eating behaviors and peripartum weight change. This knowledge is crucial in the development of interventions that reduce long‐term obesity, often triggered and boosted in the peripartum. Through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science, we identified 20 studies that fulfilled inclusion criteria: studies on food cravings, disinhibition, restrained, external, emotional, uncontrolled, intuitive, or mindful eating in relation to gestational or postpartum weight among adult women. Higher gestational weight gain was associated with lower intuitive eating (in 3/3 studies) and higher restrained eating (in 4/11 studies), external eating (in 2/2 studies), emotional eating (in 3/4 studies), food cravings (in 3/3 studies), and disinhibition (in 1/3 studies). No association with uncontrolled eating was found (in one study). No studies on mindful eating and gestational weight were identified. Higher postpartum weight loss was associated with higher restrained (in 2/4 studies) and intuitive eating (in 1/1 study). No associations between postpartum weight and food cravings, disinhibition, and mindful eating were found. No studies on external, emotional and uncontrolled eating, and postpartum weight were identified. Concluding, certain eating behaviors might be related to peripartum weight change.

Determinants of changes in women’s and men’s eating behavior across the transition to parenthood: a focus group study

“…The present study shows that these aspects seem to sustain during pregnancy. Psychological determinants such as beliefs and emotions have been identified as core drivers of (changes in) eating behavior, both in the pregnancy and postpartum period [ 1 , 21 , 48 ]. This often results in reduced intake of foods which may harm women’s pregnancy, rather than increased intake of foods providing key nutrients required for pregnancy [ 49 ].…”

“…A behavioral aspect strongly associated with weight gain is eating behavior [21]. Favorable as well as unfavorable changes in dietary intakes throughout pregnancy until the postpartum period have been described, however, these changes are inconsistent and vary between women [22][23][24].…”

Relative Importance of Determinants of Changes in Eating Behavior during the Transition to Parenthood: Priorities for Future Research and Interventions

“…Improving or maintaining healthy eating behavior during the course of pregnancy and in the postpartum period is of utmost importance for both the mother and the father. Healthy eating behavior reduces the risk for excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and facilitates controlling weight-related outcomes in women during the postpartum period [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Besides, also fathers are found to be at risk for unfavorable weight changes during the pregnancy and postpartum period [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Evolution of Postpartum Weight and Body Composition after Excessive Gestational Weight Gain: The Role of Lifestyle Behaviors—Data from the INTER-ACT Control Group

“…Emotional eating and uncontrolled eating behaviors were found to be associated with the postpartum evolution of PPWR, % GWGL, and body composition. This is a novel finding, as no previous studies have investigated emotional and uncontrolled eating in the postpartum context [ 15 ]. It is remarkable that eating behaviors were important determinants rather than food intake, as previous studies suggest food intake to play a role in PPWR.…”

“…Aside from GWG, maternal age, race, employment status, breastfeeding, physical activity and food intake are suggested to affect PPWR [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Certain eating behaviors might also play a role, as a recent systematic review shows that more restrained and intuitive eating are potentially related to decreased postpartum weight retention [ 15 ]. Other eating behaviors such as emotional eating and uncontrolled eating have not yet been studied in relation to PPWR, though they are associated with weight in the general population [ 16 , 17 ].…”