engleski

Weight retention during six months postpartum in a group of Croatian lactating women

Recent data has indicated that obesity is an important public health problem in Croatia. Postpartum weight retention is a risk factor for female obesity, and the relationship between postpartum weight retention and breastfeeding practice is controversial. Objectives were to examine the effects of maternal characteristics (anthropometric and socio-demographic) and dietary intake on weight retention during postpartum. This prospective study examined changes in body weight and BMI via anthropometry. Socio-demographic characteristics were determined by questionnaire, and dietary intake was measured using two consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Data were collected among lactating women (n=83) studied at 1±0.25, 3±0.25 and 6±0.25 months postpartum. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors of weight retention. Time since parturition was a significant predictor of weight retention (β=-0.411 ; p<0.001). Mean postpartum weight retention at the end of study was 1.3 kg. Women aged >30 and those who were not primiparous retained more weight than did younger or primiparous women. Results of multiple regression analysis have confirmed that gestational weight gain is the strongest predictor of weight retention (β=0.683 ; p<0.001), while BMI before pregnancy could also be used as a significant predictor (β=0.171 ; p<0.001). Women with a higher level of education continuously retained less weight during postpartum compared with less educated counterparts (p=0.002). Although a positive relationship between marital status and weight retention was established, it was statistically insignificant. Regarding dietary intake, weight retention was significantly positively influenced by total energy intake (β=0.163 ; p=0.015) and by energy from fat (β=0.152 ; p=0.035). Energy derived from other macronutrients had statistically insignificant influence. Croatian women should be advised to breastfeed at least 6 months, since these results support the hypothesis of an association between duration of breastfeeding – in addition to gestational weight gain, BMI before pregnancy and total energy intake – and postpartum weight retention.

breastfeeding; lactation; postpartum weight retention; maternal obesity; dietary inteke

DOI: 10.1159/000334393