Losing Weight During the Postpartum Period

The postpartum period is one of the critical time points in a woman's life that often places her at risk for obesity and obesity-related health conditions. Postpartum weight retention (defined as a retained weight of 4.5 kg at 6-12 months after delivery) affects an estimated 25% of the four million women in the US who give birth each year. Although all women are at risk for postpartum weight retention, those who are African American, Hispanic, receive a lower income, or live in certain geographical regions (South and Midwest) are at particularly high risk for weight retention and the subsequent consequences of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Here, Tsai and Nicholson talk about Phelan and colleagues' report findings on weight loss intervention during postpartum period.