Ethnic differences in postpartum weight retention: a Norwegian cohort study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Postpartum weight retention is a significant health concern, potentially leading to long-term obesity and associated comorbidities.
• Ethnic variations in health outcomes, including weight management, are increasingly recognized.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for developing targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ethnic disparities in postpartum weight retention among a multi-ethnic cohort in Oslo, Norway.
• To identify specific ethnic groups with higher risks of postpartum weight retention.
• To inform culturally sensitive strategies for weight management post-pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cohort study design was employed, including 642 healthy pregnant women.
• Explanatory linear regression was used to model the relationship between ethnicity and postpartum weight retention.
• Potential confounding factors were adjusted for using forward selection based on univariate analysis.

Main Results:

• Women from Western Europe had a mean postpartum weight retention of 2.3 kg, while minority groups ranged from 3.7 to 6.3 kg.
• Significantly higher proportions of women from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa were in the highest quintile of weight retention (>8.5-24.4 kg).
• After adjustments, women from the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa retained 2.0 kg, 2.8 kg, and 4.4 kg more, respectively, than Western European women.

Conclusions:

• Ethnic origin is a significant factor associated with postpartum weight retention.
• Women from South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African backgrounds exhibit a higher prevalence of substantial postpartum weight retention.
• These findings underscore the need for culturally tailored postpartum care and weight management programs.