title: [Postpartum weight retention in Beijing, Suzhou and Guangzhou women and its associated factors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in urban Chinese women, and to explore its associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cluster sampling methods were used to select a total of 6 hospitals in Beijing, Guangzhou and Suzhou. A total of 578 women in the 0 - 1 months, 1 - 2 months, 2 - 4 months and 4 - 8 months postpartum participated in this study. Anthropometric indicators of height and weight were measured for each participant. Questionnaire was used to obtain the sociodemographic characteristics. Maternal information of pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain were obtained by medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pre-pregnancy BMI of participants was (20. 8 ± 2. 7), while postpartum BMI was (23. 4 ± 3. 2). PPWR decreased over time, however, 53. 4% of women had PPWR over 5kg at the 4 - 8 months postpartum. 32. 6% of women were overweight or obese at 4 - 8 months postpartum. Women with PPWR >0kg at 4 - 8 months postpartum had a higher gestational weight gain ((16.5 ± 5.5) kg) compared to those with PPWR≤0 kg ((13.0 ±4.7) kg). Women with higher education experience had a higher proportion of weight retention over 0 kg at 4 - 8 month postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PPWR is a serious health and nutritional problem in Chinese women, where excess in gestational weight gain is associated with PPWR. To improve the health and lifestyle of perinatal women, a comprehensive health education and health intervention should be explored.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Ignatius Manyau
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Szeto
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yibing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Junkuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peiyu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D037841:Pregnant People; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult