title: Predictors of postpartum weight change among overweight and obese women: results from the Active Mothers Postpartum study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The postpartum period may be critical for the development of midlife obesity. Identifying factors associated with postpartum weight change could aid in targeting women for healthy lifestyle interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from Active Mothers Postpartum (AMP), a study of overweight and obese postpartum women (n=450), were analyzed to determine the effect of baseline characteristics, breastfeeding, diet, physical activity, and contraception on weight change from 6 weeks to 12, 18, and 24 months postpartum. The repeated measures mixed model was used to test the association of these effects with weight change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although mean weight loss was modest (0.49 kg by 24 months), the range of weight change was striking (+21.5 kg to -24.5 kg, standard deviation [SD] 7.4). Controlling only for baseline weight, weight loss was associated with breastfeeding, hormonal contraception, lower junk food and greater healthy food intake, and greater physical activity. Only junk food intake and physical activity were significant after controlling for all other predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eating less healthy foods and being less physically active put overweight and obese women at risk of gaining more weight after a pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Truls
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Østbye
authors.forename: Bercedis L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Katrina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Geeta K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lovelady
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
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