Study Examines Impact of a Lifestyle Intervention on Postpartum Weight Retention Among At-risk Hispanic Women

Postpartum weight retention is an important predictor of long-term obesity and diabetes, particularly among Hispanic women who developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or glucose intolerance in pregnancy. As a result, healthcare interventions have been targeting this critical postpartum period to prevent subsequent onset of obesity and diabetes in vulnerable populations.

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Epidemiology doctoral candidate Madhuri Palnati, with senior author and faculty advisor Lisa Chasan-Taber and others, set out to assess the impact of one such intervention program aimed at reducing postpartum weight retention among Hispanic women with abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Their findings appear in the current issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Using data from the Estudio Parto study – a culturally modified, motivationally targeted, individually tailored intervention program led by Chasan-Taber – Palnati and colleagues examined the effects of a lifestyle intervention focusing on healthy exercise and diet to a comparison health and wellness intervention. The primary outcome was change in weight, calculated as the difference between pre-pregnancy weight and 6-week, 6-month, and 12-month postpartum weight. The secondary outcome was achievement of weight reduction to pre-pregnancy weight if pre-pregnancy BMI was normal, or a 5% reduction if pre-pregnancy BMI was overweight/obese.

In their analyses, the researchers saw no significant differences in the primary outcome, or weight change pattern, between the interventions across all follow-up timepoints. However, at 12 months postpartum, women in the lifestyle intervention group had a nearly 2 ½ time greater odds of meeting the secondary weight reduction outcome than women in the health and wellness group. Furthermore, women who reported higher levels of postpartum physical activity were associated with greater weight loss regardless of which intervention group they were in.

The researchers note that “low-income postpartum women may face unique challenges that interfere with losing weight, underscoring the importance of flexibility in programming.” They suggest that future interventions consider food, home and financial insecurity and immigration issues; include family and social support strategies; and provide comprehensive training for those implementing the intervention to deal with issues related to social inequality and sociocultural expectations.