Reducing Postpartum Weight Retention and Interpregnancy Weight Gain, an Important Goal Not Yet Realized

Given what is known from the adult weight loss literature about the cessation of intervention effect and weight regain after intervention ends, these results are not surprising, and yet they are critically important to informing our overarching goal to identify interventions that can reduce postpartum weight retention and improve long-term maternal and child health. Dietary modification and behavioral change interventions without this tool have been successful in limiting gestational weight gain among women with overweight and/or obesity (6), and there is no evidence that the prenatal use of meal replacements provides additional sustained benefit on postpartum weight. Future studies should test interventions aimed at weight loss prior to the first pregnancy as well as gestational weight management interventions that continue beyond pregnancy into the postpartum period.O © 2019 The Obesity Society Disclosure: The author declared no conflict of interest.