Evolution of Postpartum Weight and Body Composition after Excessive Gestational Weight Gain: The Role of Lifestyle Behaviors—Data from the INTER-ACT Control Group

• Main Authors: Margriet Bijlholt, Lieveke Ameye, Hanne van Uytsel, Roland Devlieger, Annick Bogaerts
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: eating behavior; emotional eating; sedentary behavior; uncontrolled eating; maternal health; obesity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6344

Women with excessive gestational weight gain are at increased risk of postpartum weight retention and potentially also unfavorable body composition. Insight into the lifestyle behaviors that play a role in the evolution of postpartum weight and body composition among these women could aid identification of those at highest risk of long-term adverse outcomes. This secondary analysis of the INTER-ACT randomized controlled trial investigates control group data only (n = 524). The evolution of weight retention, percentage loss of gestational weight gain, fat percentage, waist circumference, and associated lifestyle behaviors between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum were assessed using mixed model analyses. At six weeks postpartum, every sedentary hour was associated with 0.1% higher fat percentage (<i>P</i> = 0.01), and a higher emotional eating score was associated with 0.2% higher fat percentage (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and 0.3 cm higher waist circumference (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Increase in emotional eating score between 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum was associated with a 0.4 kg (<i>P</i> = 0.003) increase in postpartum weight retention from six months onwards. Among women with overweight, an increase in the uncontrolled eating score between 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum was associated with a 0.3 kg higher postpartum weight retention (<i>P</i> = 0.04), and 0.3% higher fat percentage (<i>P</i> = 0.006) from six months onwards. In conclusion, sedentary and eating behaviors play important roles in postpartum weight and body composition of women with excessive gestational weight gain and should therefore be incorporated as focal points in lifestyle interventions for this population.