Pregnancy-related weight gain and retention: implications of the 1990 Institute of Medicine guidelines.
K G Keppel and
S M Taffel
National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD 20782.
OBJECTIVES. Guidelines from the Institute of Medicine's 1990report call for weight gains during pregnancy that are higherthan those previously recommended. This study examines the potentialimplications of compliance with these guidelines for postpartumweight retention. METHODS. Weight retention 10 to 18 monthsfollowing delivery was examined for selected women who had livebirths in the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.Women's actual weight gains during pregnancy were retrospectivelyclassified according to the Institute of Medicine's guidelines.RESULTS. Weight retention following delivery increased as weightgain increased, and Black women retained more weight than Whitewomen with comparable weight gain. The median retained weightfor White women who gained the amount now being recommendedwas 1.6 lb whereas that for Black women was 7.2 lb. CONCLUSIONS.If pregnant White women gain weight according to the institute'sguidelines, they need not be concerned about retaining a substantialamount of weight postpartum. Our findings suggest, however,that Black women are in need of advice about how to lose weightfollowing delivery.
Related articles in AJPH:
Prenatal weight gain and postpartum weight retention: a delicate balance.
E. M. Davis, S. J. Zyzanski, C. M. Olson, K. C. Stange, and R. I. Horwitz Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Differences in the Incidence of Obesity Related to Childbirth
Am J Public Health,
February 1, 2009;
99(2):
294 - 299.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. L Baker, M. Gamborg, B. L Heitmann, L. Lissner, T. I. Sorensen, and K. M Rasmussen Breastfeeding reduces postpartum weight retention
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
December 1, 2008;
88(6):
1543 - 1551.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
H. A. Ricciotti State of the Art Reviews: Nutrition and Lifestyle for a Healthy Pregnancy
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine,
April 1, 2008;
2(2):
151 - 158.
[Abstract][PDF]
E. P. Gunderson, S. L. Rifas-Shiman, E. Oken, J. W. Rich-Edwards, K. P. Kleinman, E. M. Taveras, and M. W. Gillman Association of Fewer Hours of Sleep at 6 Months Postpartum with Substantial Weight Retention at 1 Year Postpartum
Am. J. Epidemiol.,
January 15, 2008;
167(2):
178 - 187.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
K. P Kleinman, E. Oken, J. S Radesky, J. W Rich-Edwards, K. E Peterson, and M. W Gillman How should gestational weight gain be assessed? A comparison of existing methods and a novel method, area under the weight gain curve
Int. J. Epidemiol.,
December 1, 2007;
36(6):
1275 - 1282.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
S. D. McDonald Management and prevention of obesity in adults and children
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
April 10, 2007;
176(8):
1109 - 1110.
[Full Text][PDF]
G. Kac, M. H. Benicio, G. Velasquez-Melendez, J. G Valente, and C. J Struchiner Breastfeeding and postpartum weight retention in a cohort of Brazilian women
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
March 1, 2004;
79(3):
487 - 493.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
G. Kac, M. H.D.A. Benicio, G. Velasquez-Melendez, J. G. Valente, and C. J. Struchiner Gestational Weight Gain and Prepregnancy Weight Influence Postpartum Weight Retention in a Cohort of Brazilian Women
J. Nutr.,
March 1, 2004;
134(3):
661 - 666.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. C. Rhodes, K. C. Schoendorf, and J. D. Parker Contribution of Excess Weight Gain During Pregnancy and Macrosomia to the Cesarean Delivery Rate, 1990-2000
Pediatrics,
May 1, 2003;
111(5):
1181 - 1185.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
S. Tigas, A. Sunehag, and M. W. Haymond Metabolic Adaptation to Feeding and Fasting during Lactation in Humans
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.,
January 1, 2002;
87(1):
302 - 307.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
R. R. Wing, M. G. Goldstein, K. J. Acton, L. L. Birch, J. M. Jakicic, J. F. Sallis Jr., D. Smith-West, R. W. Jeffery, and R. S. Surwit Behavioral Science Research in Diabetes: Lifestyle changes related to obesity, eating behavior, and physical activity
Diabetes Care,
January 1, 2001;
24(1):
117 - 123.
[Abstract][Full Text]
B. Abrams, S. L Altman, and K. E Pickett Pregnancy weight gain: still controversial
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
May 1, 2000;
71(5):
1233S - 1241.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
C. A Hickey Sociocultural and behavioral influences on weight gain during pregnancy
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
May 1, 2000;
71(5):
1364S - 1370.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
N. F. Butte Dieting and Exercise in Overweight, Lactating Women
N. Engl. J. Med.,
February 17, 2000;
342(7):
502 - 503.
[Full Text]
L. O. Walker and S. J. Grobe The Construct of Thriving in Pregnancy and Postpartum
Nurs Sci Q,
April 1, 1999;
12(2):
151 - 157.
[Abstract][PDF]
R. AbuSabha and G. Greene Body Weight, Body Composition, and Energy Intake Changes in Breastfeeding Mothers
J Hum Lact,
June 1, 1998;
14(2):
119 - 124.
[Abstract][PDF]
J. D. Allan New Directions for the Study of Overweight
West J Nurs Res,
February 1, 1998;
20(1):
7 - 13.
[PDF]
D. E. Smith, C. E. Lewis, J. L. Caveny, L. L. Perkins, G. L. Burke, and D. E. Bild Longitudinal Changes in Adiposity Associated With Pregnancy: The CARDIA Study
JAMA,
June 8, 1994;
271(22):
1747 - 1751.
[Abstract][PDF]