Association of postpartum depression with weight retention 1 year after childbirth.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the extent to which early postpartum depression is associated with weight retention 1 year after childbirth.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study of 850 women enrolled in Project Viva, mothers reported depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at midpregnancy and 6 months postpartum. A score >12 indicated probable depression. We assessed associations of antenatal and postpartum depression with risk of substantial weight retention (at least 5 kg) 1 year after childbirth.


RESULTS
Seven-hundred thirty-six women (87%) were not depressed during or after pregnancy, 55 (6%) experienced antenatal depression only, 22 (3%) experienced both antenatal and postpartum depression, and 37 (4%) experienced postpartum depression only. At 1 year, participants retained a mean of 0.6 kg (range -16.4 to 25.5), and 12% retained at least 5 kg. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, after adjustment for weight-related covariates, maternal sociodemographics, and parity, new-onset postpartum depression was associated with more than a doubling of risk of retaining at least 5 kg (odds ratio (OR): 2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 6.09). Antenatal depression, either alone or in combination with postpartum depression, was not associated with substantial weight retention.


CONCLUSIONS
New-onset postpartum depression was associated with substantial weight retention in the first postpartum year. Interventions to manage depressive symptoms may help reduce excess weight retained postpartum and aid in the prevention of obesity among women.
Herring
Sharon J
SJ
Obesity Prevention Program, Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. sherring@hsph.harvard.edu
Rich-Edwards
Janet W
JW
Oken
Emily
E
Rifas-Shiman
Sheryl L
SL
Kleinman
Ken P
KP
Gillman
Matthew W
MW
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology