A longitudinal study of maternal anthropometric changes in normal weight, overweight and obese women during pregnancy and postpartum

Many women associate one or more of their pregnancies with the development of adult obesity. Such an association has not been fully explored. This lon gitudinal study examines the changes in maternal anthropometric indices dur ing pregnancy and postpartum. Seventy-seven pregnant subjects were investig ated longitudinally at about 13, 25 and 36 weeks gestation, of whom forty-s even continued taking part into the postpartum period. Maternal weight, hei ght and skinfold thickness (triceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac and mi d thigh) were measured at each visit. Maternal fat mass was estimated from the conversion of the first four skinfold thicknesses. Maternal waist and h ip circumferences were also measured at the first visit and 6 weeks and 6 m onths postpartum. Weight and fat gain during pregnancy (13-36 weeks gestati on) was 10.9 (sd 4.7) kg and 4.6 (sd 3.3) kg (P < 0.001) respectively. A si gnificant increase in fat mass from 13 weeks gestation to 6-months postpart um was observed (2.6 (sd 4.5), P < 0.001). The increased weight at 6-months postpartum, however, was not statistically significant (1.1 (sd 6.0) kg, P = 0.20). Based on BMI in early pregnancy, the subjects were divided into g roups of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. The last three g roups were compared using ANOVA. The obese group showed a significant diffe rence in the pattern of changes in the skinfold thickness, waist : hip rati o and fat mass at the postpartum period, in comparison with the other two g roups. In conclusion, there is a tendency in the obese group to develop cen tral obesity at the postpartum period.