Postpartum Weight Change in Relation to Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Gestational Weight Gain in Women in Low-Income Setting: Data from the KITE Cohort in the Northern Part of Ethiopia

• Published in: Nutrients 2021-12, Vol.14 (1), p.131
• Main Authors: Misgina, Kebede Haile, Groen, Henk, Bezabih, Afework Mulugeta, Boezen, Hendrika Marike, van der Beek, Eline M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Body size; Body weight gain; Body weight loss; Cohort Studies; Data collection; Developing countries; Domestic violence; Empowerment; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Female; Food security; Gestational Weight Gain; Households; Humans; Industrialized nations; LDCs; Maternal & child health; Mental health; Nutritional Status; Obstetrics; Overweight; Population; Postpartum; postpartum maternal nutrition; Postpartum Period - physiology; postpartum weight change; postpartum weight retention; Poverty - statistics & numerical data; pre-pregnancy weight; Pregnancy; Public health; Questionnaires; Retention; Sanitation; Thinness - epidemiology; Underweight; Weight loss; Weight Loss - physiology; Womens health
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu14010131

(1) Background: Postpartum weight may increase compared to pre-pregnancy due to weight retention or decrease due to weight loss. Both changes could pose deleterious effects on maternal health and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postpartum weight change and its associated factors. (2) Methods: A total of 585 women from the lte-Awlaelo igray thiopia (KITE) cohort were included in the analysis. (3) Results: The mean pre-pregnancy body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy were 19.7 kg/m and 10.8 kg, respectively. At 18 to 24 months postpartum, the weight change ranged from -3.2 to 5.5 kg (mean = 0.42 kg [SD = 1.5]). In addition, 17.8% of women shifted to normal weight and 5.1% to underweight compared to the pre-pregnancy period. A unit increase in weight during pregnancy was associated with higher weight change (β = 0.56 kg, 95% CI [0.52, 0.60]) and increased probability to achieve normal weight (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.37, 2.00]). Food insecurity (AOR = 5.26, 95% CI [1.68, 16.50]), however, was associated with a shift to underweight postpartum. Interestingly, high symptoms of distress (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.03, 0.48]) also negatively impacted a change in weight category. (4) Conclusions: In low-income settings such as northern Ethiopia, higher weight gain and better mental health during pregnancy may help women achieve a better nutritional status after pregnancy and before a possible subsequent pregnancy.