One-third who had been normal weight before giving birth were overweight or obese a year later
WebMD News from HealthDay
By Maureen Salamon
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women's fears that pregnancy pounds will linger are validated by new research that suggests three-quarters of new mothers are heavier a year after giving birth than they were before becoming pregnant.
Analyzing data from nearly 800 low-income women, researchers also found that one-third of those of normal weight before pregnancy became overweight or obese one year after childbirth. Nearly one-quarter of all new mothers had retained more than 20 extra pounds.
"This unfortunately showed that pregnancy itself is leading to obesity or [being] overweight for a substantial number of women," said study author Dr. Loraine Endres, an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago.
"It's a very important issue," she added. "We all see the rising number of obese people in our country and the health consequences that come from that, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. I really wanted to see where this is starting for women and to see if there is any way to turn it around."
About 35 percent of women older than 20 are obese and another 34 percent are overweight, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher is considered obese, while a BMI of 25 to 30 is classified as overweight. BMI is a height-weight ratio that calculates body fat.
Endres and her colleagues collected data from 774 women from five locations in the United States. Participants were interviewed three times by the 12-month mark after childbirth, and height and weight measurements were taken at six and 12 months postpartum.
Women gained an average of 32 pounds while pregnant and were an average of nearly 173 pounds a year after childbirth. About 75 percent were heavier than they were pre-pregnancy, including 47 percent retaining more than 10 pounds.
Factors that seemed to help pregnancy weight loss included breast-feeding and moderate exercise, according to the study.
"The biggest problem is that a large number of women gain too much during pregnancy," Endres said. "The more you gain, the harder it is to ever lose that weight. From the moment women conceive, as health care providers we need to start talking with them about appropriate weight gain and remaining active."
source : Many Women Don't Lose Those Pregnancy Pounds, Study Finds
