The INTERGROWTH-21st gestational weight gain standard and interpregnancy weight increase: A population-based study of...

To link the INTERGROWTH-21st gestational weight gain standard with the risks of excess maternal postpartum weight retention, approximated by women's weight change between successive pregnancies.

A population-based retrospective cohort study of 58,534 women delivering successive pregnancies in British Columbia, Canada (2000-2015) was conducted. Pregnancy weight gain (kg) in the index pregnancy was converted into a gestational age-standardized z-score using the INTERGROWTH-21st standard. Excess interpregnancy weight gain was defined as weight increases of 5 kg, 10 kg, or obesity (≥30 kg/m² ) at the next pregnancy. Weight gain z-scores and excess interpregnancy weight change were associated using logistic regression.

For all definitions of excess interpregnancy weight gain, risks remained low and stable below a weight gain z-score of 0 (50th percentile) but rose sharply with increasing z-scores above zero. Compared with women gaining -1 to 0 SD (16th to 50th percentiles), women gaining > 0 to +1 SD (51st to 84th percentiles) were 55% to 84% more likely to retain excess weight between pregnancies. Risks were three- to sixfold higher in women gaining >+1 SD.

A large range of the INTERGROWTH-21st percentiles were associated with increased risks of excess interpregnancy weight gain. The standard may normalize high weight gains of women at increased risk of excess weight retention.