Related Experiment Videos
Pregnancy-related changes in body fat
A C Sidebottom1, J E Brown, D R Jacobs
1Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. abbey.sidebottom@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
|February 13, 2001
Summary
Subcutaneous body fat stores change during pregnancy, with significant increases noted from the first trimester to 35 weeks. Factors like preconceptional body mass index (BMI), parity, and infant gender influence these body fat changes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Human physiology
- Maternal health
Background:
- Pregnancy involves significant physiological adaptations, including changes in body composition.
- Understanding subcutaneous fat dynamics is crucial for monitoring maternal and fetal well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patterns of subcutaneous body fat changes from preconception through 6 weeks postpartum.
- To identify factors that modify these body fat alterations during and after pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 557 healthy women enrolled before pregnancy.
- Measurement of body weight and skinfold thickness (thigh, triceps, subscapula) at multiple time points: preconception, each trimester, and 6 weeks postpartum.
Main Results:
- Subcutaneous fat stores remained stable in early pregnancy, then increased significantly between 6 and 35 weeks, particularly at the thigh and subscapular sites.
- Body fat changes showed poor correlation with weight changes and varied based on preconceptional body mass index (BMI), parity, and infant gender.
- Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with lower skinfold thicknesses throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- Subcutaneous body fat is dynamically stored and utilized at specific sites during pregnancy and postpartum.
- The pattern and extent of body fat changes are influenced by individual maternal characteristics and pregnancy specifics.