title: Return to military weight standards after pregnancy in active duty working women: comparison of marine corps vs. navy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the likelihood of being within weight standards before and after pregnancy between United States Marine Corps (USMC) and Navy (USN) active duty women (ADW).
  
  
  METHODS
  ADW with singleton gestations who delivered at a USMC base were followed for 6 months to determine likelihood of returning to military weight standards. Odds ratio (OR), adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated; p < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar proportions of USN and USMC ADW were within body weight standards one year prior to pregnancy (79%, 97%) and at first prenatal visit (69%, 96%), respectively. However, USMC ADW were significantly more likely to be within body weight standards at 3 months (AOR 4.30,1.28-14.43) and 6 months after delivery (AOR 9.94, 1.53-64.52) than USN ADW. Weight gained during pregnancy did not differ significantly for the two groups (40.4 lbs vs 44.2 lbs, p = 0.163). The likelihood of spontaneous vaginal delivery was significantly higher (OR 2.52, 1.20-5.27) and the mean birth weight was significantly lower (p = 0.0036) among USMC ADW as compared to USN ADW.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being within weight standards differs significantly for USMC and USN ADW after pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. joy.greer@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Joy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Craig M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Zelig
authors.forename: Kenny K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nicole Calloway
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Rankins
authors.forename: Suneet P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Everett F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Magann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056865:Ideal Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012015:Reference Standards; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014931:Women, Working / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult