(04-11-11) Gestational weight gain and long-term postpartum weight retention: a meta-analysis

1. Ina Nehring,
2. Sylvia Schmoll,
3. Andreas Beyerlein,
4. Hans Hauner, and
5. R?diger von Kries
+ Author Affiliations
1. 1From the Division of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians Universit?t M?nchen, Freising, Germany (IN, SS, AB, and RvK), and Else-Kr?ner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technische Universit?t M?nchen, Freising, Germany (HH).
+ Author Notes
↵2 Parts of this work arose from the MD thesis of SS at the Medical Department of the University of Munich (in preparation).
↵3 Supported by Perinatal Prevention of Obesity Development?part of the German obesity network funded by the German Federal Ministry of education and research (to IN).
↵4 Address correspondence to I Nehring, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Institute for Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Heiglhofstrasse 63, 81377 Munich, Germany. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract
Background: Gestational weight gain (GWG) is known to be a potential risk factor for short-term postpartum weight retention (PPWR) and thus for overweight in women. Does GWG also determine the long-term risk of overweight in women?
Objective: We aimed to study the short- and long-term effects of GWG in accordance with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations on postpartum weight retention.
Design: We systematically reviewed 5 databases and bibliographies of various publications supplemented by hand search for relevant articles published in English or German and performed meta-analyses to quantify the effect estimate of PPWR by using a random-effects model. We split the data into 4 categories of follow-up: <0.5, 0.5?1, ∼3, and ≥15 y.
Results: Of 1770 search hits, 9 observational studies remained suitable for the analysis. PPWR increased after longer time spans after delivery irrespective of whether GWG had been below, within, or above the guidelines. Compared with women with GWG within the recommendations, those with a GWG above the recommendations retained an additional 3.06 kg (95% CI: 1.50, 4.63 kg) after 3 y and 4.72 kg (95% CI: 2.94, 6.50 kg) on average after ≥15 y postpartum. Inadequate GWG was associated with less PPWR (−2.99 kg; 95% CI: −3.72, −2.27 kg) <6 mo after pregnancy. This association faded over time and became nonsignificant (−1.41 kg; 95% CI: −3.03, 0.21 kg) after ≥15 y. The results remained stable in sensitivity analyses that accounted for changes in IOM criteria over time and potential effect modification by low social class. A funnel plot did not suggest publication bias.
Conclusion: GWG in accordance with the IOM recommendations is associated with long-term effects on PPWR.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr November 2011 vol. 94 no. 5 1225-1231

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.