Ethnic differences in weight retention after pregnancy: The ABCD study

Abstract

Background: Postpartum weight retention contributes to the development of overweight and obesity in women of childbearing age and is more pronounced in ethnic minority groups. This study examined ethnic differences in postpartum weight retention and the explanatory role of socio-economic status (SES), mental health and lifestyle. Methods: In the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, a large multi-ethnic cohort study conducted in The Netherlands, women filled out questionnaires in the first trimester of pregnancy and 3-5 months postpartum. A total of 4213 women provided data on weight gain, ethnicity, SES, mental health and lifestyle during and after pregnancy. Postpartum weight retention was defined as a difference of 5 kg between self-reported pre-pregnancy and postpartum weight. The influence of ethnicity on postpartum weight retention was assessed in logistic regression analyses. Whether the role of ethnicity was attenuated by adding SES, mental health and lifestyle factors were subsequently investigated. Results: Marked differences in weight change during and after pregnancy were found between ethnic groups. Turkish women had significantly more weight retention than Dutch women. This difference could not be explained by other factors. Conclusion: In the prevention of postpartum weight retention, no single approach seems applicable to all ethnic groups. During pregnancy, health professionals should focus on Turkish women in particular, as they appear to have the highest risk of weight retention. © 2012 The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.