title: Changes in maternal weight 5-10 years after a first delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to identify maternal, obstetrical and reproductive factors associated with long-term changes in maternal weight after delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study of maternal health 5-10 years after childbirth. Data were obtained from obstetrical records and a self-administered questionnaire. Weight at the time of first delivery (5-10 years prior) was obtained retrospectively and each woman's weight at the time of her first delivery was compared with her current weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 948 women, obesity was associated with race, parity, education, history of diabetes and history of cesarean at the time of first delivery. On average, the difference between weight at the time of first delivery and weight 5-10 years later was -11 kg (11 kg weight loss). In a multivariate model, black race and diabetes were associated with significantly less weight loss. Cesarean delivery, parity and breastfeeding were not associated with changes in maternal weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Black women and those with a history of diabetes may be appropriate targets for interventions that promote a long-term healthy weight after childbirth.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Britz
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Joan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blomquist
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Handa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008396:Maryland; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*