Weight six years after childbirth: a follow-up of obese women in a weight-gain restriction programmme

Abstract

Objective: to compare weight development in an intervention group and a control group, six years after participation in a gestational weight-gain restriction programme.

Design: follow-up of a prospective intervention study.

Settings: antenatal care clinics.

Participants: a total of 129 women (88.4%) from the original intervention group and 166 women (88.8%) from the original control group.

Measurements: the women answered a study specific questionnaire, covering socio-demographic data and health- and weight status.

Findings: after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, the mean weight was lower (4.1kg) among the women in the intervention group, compared to the controls (p=0.028). Furthermore, the mean weight change, e.g. the weight at the six year assessment compared with the weight at the start of the intervention at the first antenatal care visit, was greater in the intervention group than in the control group. The women in the intervention group had a larger mean weight change (-5.2kg), e.g. weighed less than the women in the control group (-1.9kg) (p=0.046). Mean weight change expressed in 5kg classes also showed a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.030).

Key conclusions: the results indicate that attending a gestational weight-gain-restriction programme can have a positive effect on weight up to six years after the intervention.

Implication for practise: a restrictive gestational weight gain can result in a positive weight development during the first years after childbirth. It might provide both short- and long term medical health benefits for the mother as well as the child.

Keywords: Intervention studies; Obesity; Pregnancy; Weight gain.