Weight history of overweight pregnant women

Pre-conception weight gain and postpartum weight retention may contribute to women's increased risk of developing overweight/obesity; however, weight history data that would permit an examination of this hypothesis have been lacking. Our objective was to describe the weight history of pregnant overweight women and their families.

Between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation, 107 overweight pregnant women (21 Aboriginal, including 20 First Nations and one Métis, and 86 non-Aboriginal) completed a weight history questionnaire.

Average adult usual body weight (UBW) corresponded to a body mass index (BMI) of 29.2 +/- 5.5 kg/m2 (overweight). Average pre-pregnancy BMI (33.0 +/- 6.6 kg/m2) increased into the obesity category. Over two-thirds of subjects reported an unstable UBW. A large proportion of multiparous subjects had retained weight after pregnancy. The average weight retained was 12.7 +/- 9.4 kg, and it accounted for almost all of the weight change from UBW.

Weight history questionnaire results showed that pre-conception weight fluctuations and postpartum weight retention are significant problems for many overweight/obese women. Health care professionals can use this information for early prenatal through postpartum interventions designed to help overweight/obese women achieve an appropriate pregnancy weight and prevent sustained postpartum weight retention.