The influence of psychological factors on post‐partum weight retention at 9 months

Abstract

What is already known on this subject? Post-partum weight retention (PWR) is a critical pathway for long-term overweight and obesity. Causes of PWR are complex and multifactorial. There is increasing evidence that psychological factors play a key role in predicting high PWR. What does this study add? Post-partum body dissatisfaction at 3 and 6 months is associated with PWR at 9 months post-birth. Post-partum depression, stress and anxiety have less influence on PWR at 9 months. Interventions aimed at preventing excessive PWR should target body dissatisfaction.

Factors associated with postpartum weight retention in a Brazilian cohort

“…Whitaker et al 12 found a significant association between stress and weight retention. Phillips et al 13 showed that weight gain during pregnancy, breast feeding (six or less months), body image dissatisfaction in months three and six after delivery were associated with more postpartum weight retention.…”

“…Sleep disorders and depression also seem to be associated with postpartum weight retention 11,12 . It has been demonstrated that early (three and six months) postpartum body image dissatisfaction is related with postpartum weight retention at nine months 13 . Even though scientific literature about this subject is growing, the factors of postpartum weight retention have yet to be explored in different settings and populations.…”

Obesity and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum: A systematic review

“…To our knowledge, the 13 records were based on eight studies conducted in Australia Phillips et al, 2014aPhillips et al, , 2014b, Belgium (Bogaerts et al, 2013a(Bogaerts et al, , 2013b(Bogaerts et al, , 2013c, Sweden (Claesson et al, 2014(Claesson et al, , 2010, and the USA (Carter et al, 2000;Catov et al, 2010;Harville et al, 2009;Laraia et al, 2009;Webb et al, 2009). No study included population-based representative samples or reported cross-national data.…”

“…No study included population-based representative samples or reported cross-national data. Seven publications reported on the association between pregnancy obesity and anxiety (Bogaerts et al, 2013a(Bogaerts et al, , 2013bCarter et al, 2000;Catov et al, 2010;Harville et al, 2009;Laraia et al, 2009;McPhie et al, 2015), two on the association between excessive GWG and anxiety Webb et al, 2009), and three on the association between PPWR and anxiety (Bogaerts et al, 2013c;Phillips et al, 2014aPhillips et al, , 2014b. 10 Studies had prospective designs (Bogaerts et al, 2013a(Bogaerts et al, , 2013cCarter et al, 2000;Catov et al, 2010;Harville et al, 2009;Laraia et al, 2009;McPhie et al, 2015;Phillips et al, 2014aPhillips et al, , 2014bWebb et al, 2009), but some publications based on prospective designs only reported data from one time point (Catov et al, 2010;Laraia et al, 2009).…”

“…Three publications reported on associations between anxiety and PPWR (Bogaerts et al, 2013c;Phillips et al, 2014aPhillips et al, , 2014b ( Table 2). In all studies, PPWR was calculated as the difference between self-reported postpartum weight and retrospectively self- reported pre-pregnancy weight.…”