Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T15:45:51.474Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Do the changes in energy balance that occur during pregnancy predispose parous women to obesity?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2007

H. E. Harris
Affiliation:
Maternal and Child Health Research Programme, University of Greenwich, Wellington Street, London, SE18 6PF, United Kingdom.
G. T. H. Ellison
Affiliation:
Institute for Behavioural Sciences, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Fax: +44 181 331 8305 Email: 101572.2635@Compuserve.com
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The aim of this review was to re-assess whether the changes in energy balance that accompany pregnancy predispose parous women to obesity. A number of cross-sectional studies have sought to answer this question by examining the relationship between parity and maternal body weight. However, these studies were unable to control for the large number of sociobehavioural confounders that might be responsible for the apparent effect of parity on body weight. Longitudinal studies that examine changes in maternal body weight before and after regnancy avoid these problems by using each mother as her own control. Nevertheless, these studies have to overcome three methodological constraints: They must obtain an accurate measure of prepregnant body weight, they must give each mother sufficient time to lose any weight retained following delivery, and they must take into account the effect of ageing on maternal weight gain during pregnancy and the follow-up period. More than 90% of the studies reviewed found body weight to be greater after pregnancy than it was before (by 0.2–10.6kg). and previous researchers who have examined the evidence for pregnancy-related weight gains suggest that body weight increases by an average of 04–4.8kg following pregnancy. However, only three of the 71 longitudinal studies examined in the present review complied with the three methodological criteria. These studies concluded that mothers gain, on average, 0.9–3.3kg more weight following pregnancy than nonpregnant controls, and that mean body weight remained 0.4–3.0kg higher, even after controlling for a number of sociobehavioural confounders. This apparently modest increase in mean maternal body weight for women having one or two children conceals the fact that some mothers experience a substantial increase in body weight and become obese following pregnancy. It remains unclear whether these increases are simply the result of changes in energy metabolism during pregnancy and lactation, or whether they are influenced by inherent changes in lifestyle that accompany pregnancy and motherhood. Understanding the relative importance of these alternatives might help to explain the aetiology of maternal obesity.

“Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life, who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal”

George Well (1945) Animal Farm. London: Secker and Warburg.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1997

References

Abitbol, M. M., (1969). Weight gain in pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 104, 104157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Abraham, S., (1989). Problems with weight control during pregnancy. Medical Journal of Australia 151, 231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Abrahm, B. (1993). Prenatal weight gain and postpartum weight retention: a delicate balance. American Journal of Public Health 83, 10821084.Google Scholar
Adair, L. S., Pollitt, E. & Mueller, W. H. (1983). Maternal anthropometric changes during pregnancy and lactation in a, rural Taiwanese population. Human Biology 55, 771787.Google Scholar
Adair, L. S., Pollitt, E. & Mueller, W. H. (1984). The Bacon Chow study. Effect of nutritional supplementation on maternal weight and skinfold thicknesses during pregnancy and lactation. British Journal of Nutrition 51, 357369.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
AAP/ACOG (American Academy of Pediatrics & American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) (1983). Guidelines for prenatal care. Elk Grove, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.Google Scholar
Ash, S., Fisher, C. C., Truswell, A. S., Allen, J. R. & Irwig, L. (1989). Maternal weight gain, smoking, and other factors in pregnancy as predictors of infant birth-weight in Sydney women. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 29, 212219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baecke, J. A. H., Burema, J., Frijters, J. E. R., Hautvast, J. G. A. J. & Van der Weil-Wetzels, W. A. M. (1983). Obesity in young Dutch adults. I. Socio-demographic variables and body mass index. International Journal of Obesity 7, 112.Google ScholarPubMed
Baric, L. & MacArthur, C. (1977). Health norms in pregnancy. British Journal of Preventative and Social Medicine 31, 3038.Google ScholarPubMed
Beazley, J. M. & Swinhoe, J. R. (1979). Body weight in parous women: is there any alteration between successive pregnancies? Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 58. 4547.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Billewicz, W. Z. & Thomson, A. M. (1970). Body weight in parous women. British Journal of Preventative and Social Medicine 24, 97104.Google ScholarPubMed
Blackbum, M. W. & Calloway, D. H. (1976). Energy expenditure and consumption of mature, pregnant and lactating women. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 69, 2937.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boardley, D. J., Sargent, R. G., Coker, A. L., Hussey, J. R. & Sharpe, P. A. (1995). The relationship between diet, activity, and other factors, and postpartum weight change by race. Obstetrics and Gynecology 86, 834838.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bradley, P. J. (1985). Conditions recalled to have been associated with weight gain in adulthood. Appetite 6, 235241.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bray, G. A. (1978). Definition, measurement, and classification of the syndromes of obesity. International Journal of Obesity 2, 99112.Google ScholarPubMed
Bray, P. N. (1938). Weight changes in pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 35, 802809.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
British Nutrition Foundation (1994). Nutrition in Pregnancy. London: British Nutrition Foundation.Google Scholar
Brown, J. E., Kaye, S. A. & Folsom, A. R. (1992). Parity-related weight change in women. International Journal of Obesity 16, 627–431.Google ScholarPubMed
Butte, N. F., Calloway, D. H. & Van Duzen, J. L. (1981). Nutritional assessment of pregnant and lactating Navajo women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 34, 22162228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caan, B., Horgen, D. M., Margen., S., King, J. C. & Jewell, N. P. (1987). Benefits associated with WIC supplemental feeding during the interpregnancy interval. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 2941.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cathcart, E. P., Bedale, E. M., Blair, C., Macleod, K. & Weatherhead, M. (1927). The Physique of Women in Industry, p. 44. London: Industrial Fatigue Research Board.Google Scholar
Cederlöf, R. & Kaij, L. (1970). The effect of childbearing on body weight: a twin control study. Acra Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Suppl. 219, 4749.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chesley, L. C. (1944). Weight changes and water balance in normal and toxic pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 48. 565591.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chowdhury, A. K. M. A. (1987). Changes in maternal nutritional status in a chronically malnourished population in ma1 Bangladesh. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 19, 201211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clapp, J. F. (1989). Oxygen consumption during treadmill exercise, before, during, and after pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 161. 1458–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clapp, J. F. (1991). The changing thermal response to endurance exercise during pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 165, 16841689.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clapp, J. F. & Little, K. D. (1995). Effect of recreational exercise on pregnancy weight gain and subcutaneous fat deposition. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 27, 170177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clissold, T. L., Hopkins, W. G. & Seddon, R. J. (1991). Lifestyle behaviours during pregnancy. New Zealand Medical Journal 104, 111113.Google ScholarPubMed
Colditz, G. A., Willett, W. C., Stampfer, M. J., London, S. J., Segal, M. R. & Speizer, F. E. (1990). Patterns of weight change and their relation to diet in a cohort of healthy women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51, 11001105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cornminee on Maternal Nutrition (1970). Maternal Nutrition and the Course of Pregnancy. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.Google Scholar
Copper, R. L., DuBard, M. B., Goldenberg, R. L. & Oweis, A. I. (1995). The relationship of maternal attitude toward weight gain to weight gain during pregnancy and low birth weight. Obstetrics and Gynecology 85, 590595.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crowell, D. T. (1995). Weight change in the postpartum period. A review of the literature. Journal of Nurse Midwifery 40, 418423.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dawes, M. G., Green, J. & Ashurst, H. (1992). Routine weighing in pregnancy. British Medical Journal 304, 487489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Health (1992). The Health of the Nation: A strategy for health in England. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. I. & Nommsen, L. A. (1993). Maternal weight-loss patterns during prolonged lactation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 58, 162166.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dibblee, L. & Graham, T. E. (1983). A longitudinal study of changes in aerobic fitness, body composition. and energy intake in primigravid patients. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 147, 908914.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dumin, I. V. G. A. (1987). Energy requirements of pregnancy. An integration of the longitudinal data from the five-country study. Lancet 2, 11311134.Google Scholar
Durnin, J. V. G. A., McKillop, F. M., Grant, S. & Fitzgerald, G. (1985). Is nutritional status endangered by virtually no extra intake during pregnancy? Lancet 2, 823826.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dumin, J. V. G. A. & Womersley, J. (1974). Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness. Measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. British Journal of Nutrition 32, 7797.Google Scholar
English, R. M. & Hitchcock, N. E. (1968). Nutrient intakes during pregnancy, lactation and after the cessation of lactation in a group of Australian women. British Journal of Nutrition 22, 615624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feigenberg, M. & Schiller, R. (1977). Nutritional counselling for middle class gravidas. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecological and Neonatal Nursing 6, 1922.Google ScholarPubMed
Flegal, K. M., Harlan, W. R. & Landis, J. R. (1988). Secular trends in body mass index and skinfold thickness with socioeconomic factors in young adult women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 535543.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forster, J. L., Bloom, E., Sorensen, G., Jeffery, R. W. & Prineas, R. J. (1986). Reproductive history and body mass index in black and white women. Preventive Medicine 15, 685691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forsum, E., Sadurskis, A. & Wager, J. (1988). Resting metabolic rate and body composition of healthy Swedish women during pregnancy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47, 942947.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forsum, E., Sadurskis, A. & Wager, J. (1989). Estimation of body fat in healthy Swedish women during pregnancy and lactation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, 465473.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Franko, D. L. & Walton, B. E. (1993). Pregnancy and eating disorders. A review and clinical implications. International Journal of Eating Disorders 13, 4148.3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gam, S. M., La Velle, M., Pesick, S. D. & Ridella, S. A. (1984). Are pregnant teenagers still in rapid growth? American Journal of Diseases of Children 138, 3234.Google Scholar
Gam, S. M. & Petrold, A. S. (1983). Characteristics of the mother and child in teenage pregnancy. American Journal of Diseases of Children 137, 365368.Google Scholar
Gam, S. M., Shaw, H. A. & McCabe, K. D. (1978). Effect of maternal smoking on weight and weight gain between pregnancies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 31 13021303.Google Scholar
Garrow, J. S. (1987). Energy balance in man – an overview. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 11141119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gillmer, M. D. G. (1983). Obesity in pregnancy – clinical and metabolic effects. In Nutrition in Pregnancy: proceedings of the tenth Study Group of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, p. 213230 [Campbell, D. M. and Gillmer, M. D. G. editors]. London: RCOG.Google Scholar
Goldberg, G. R., Prentice, A. M., Coward, W. A., Davies, H. L., Murgatroyd, P. R., Wensing, C., Black, A. E., Harding, M. & Sawyer, M. (1993). Longitudinal assessment of energy expenditure in pregnancy by the doubly labeled water method. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 57, 494505.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gordon, T., Kannel, W. B., Dawber, T. R. & McGee, D. (1975). Changes associated with quitting cigarette smoking: the Framingham Study. American Heart Journal 90, 322328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gormican, A., Valentine, J. & Satter, E. (1980). Relationships of maternal weight gain, prepregnancy weight, and infant birth weight: Interaction of weight factors in pregnancy. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 77, 662667.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greene, G. W., Smiciklas-Wright, H., Scholl, T. O. & Karp, R. J. (1988). Postpartum weight change: how much of the weight gained in pregnancy will be lost after delivery? Obstetrics and Gynecology 71, 701707.Google Scholar
Greene, J. A. (1939). Clinical study of the etiology of obesity. Annals of Internal Medicine 12, 17971803.Google Scholar
Gurney, R. (1936). The hereditary factor in obesity. Archives of Internal Medicine 57, 557561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, H. E., Ellison, G. T. H., Holliday, M. & Lucassen, E. (1996). Identifying the possible causes of maternal obesity. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 55, 231A.Google Scholar
Harrison, M. J. & Hicks, S. A. (1983). Postpartum concerns of mothers and their sources of help. Canadian Journal of Public Health 74, 325328.Google ScholarPubMed
Heliövaara, M. & Aromaa, A. (1981). Parity and obesity. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 35, 197199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunt, S. C., Daines, M. M., Adams, T. D., Heath, E. M. & Williams, R. R. (1995). Pregnancy weight retention in morbid obesity. Obesity Research 3, 121130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hytten, F. E. (1981). Weight gain in pregnancy 30 years of research. South African Medical Journal 60, 1519.Google Scholar
Hytten, F. (1990a). Is it important or even useful to measure weight gain in pregnancy? Midwifery 6, 2832.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hytten, F. (1990b). Nutritional requirements in pregnancy: what should the pregnant woman be eating? Midwifery 6, 9398.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hytten, F. (1990c). Nutritional requirements in pregnancy: what happens if they are not met? Midwifery 6. 140145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hytten, F. E. (1991). Weight gain in pregnancy. In Clinicul Physiology in Obstetrics. 2nd edn, pp. 173203. [Hytten, F. and Chamberlain, G. editors]. Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Hytten, F. E., Thomson, A. M. & Taggart, N. (1966). Total body water in normal pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth 73, 553561.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Illingworth, P. J., Jung, R. T., Howie, P. W. & Isles, T. E. (1987). Reduction in postprandial energy expenditure during pregnancy, British Medical Journal 294, 15731576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Illingworth, P. J., Jung, R. T., Howie, P. W., Leslie, P. & Isles, T. E. (1986). Diminution in energy expenditure during lactation. British Medical Journal 292, 437441.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
James, W. P. T. & Bisdee, J. T. (1982). Energy balance in obesity and its relevance to pregnancy. In Nutrition in Pregnancy: proceedings of the tenth Study Group of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, pp. 231241 [Campbell, D. M. and Gillmer, M. D. G. editors]. London: RCOG.Google Scholar
James, W. P. T. & Schofield, E. C. (1990). Human Energy Requirements: a manual for plnnners and nutritionalists. Oxford: Oxford Medical Publications.Google Scholar
Johnston, E. M. (1991). Weight changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Progress in Food and Nutrition Science 15, 117157.Google ScholarPubMed
Joint Clothing Council (1957). Women's Measurements and Sizes. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Kahn, H. S., Williamson, D. F. & Stevens, J. A. (1991). Race and weight change in US women: the roles of socioeconomic and marital status. American Journal of Public Health 81, 319323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kam, M. N. (1957). Considerations arising from weight and some other variables recorded in the survey of women's measurements. Annals of Human Genetics 22. 385390.Google Scholar
Kawakami, S., Ishiwata, C., Hayashi, K., Kawaguchi, Y., Kondo, N. & Iimka, R. (1977). Alteration of maternal body weight in pregnancy and the postpartum. Keio Journal of Medicine 26, 5362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forster, J. L., Bloom, E., Sorensen, G., Jeffery, R. W., & Prineas, R. J., (1986). Reproductive history and body mass index in black and white women. Preventive Medicine 15. 685691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forsum, E., Sadurskis, A. & Wager, J. (1988). Resting metabolic rate and body composition of healthy Swedish women during pregnancy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47, 942947.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forsum, E., Sadurskis, A., & Wager, J., (1989). Estimation of body fat in healthy Swedish women during pregnancy and lactation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, 465473.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Franko, D. L., & Walton, B. E. (1993). Pregnancy and eating disorders. A review and clinical implications. International Journal of Eating Disorders 13, 4148.3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gam, S. M., La Velle, M., Pesick, S. D. & Ridella, S. A., (1984). Are pregnant teenagers still in rapid growth? American Journal of Diseases of Children 138, 3234.Google Scholar
Gam, S. M., & Petrold, A. S., (1983). Characteristics of the mother and child in teenage pregnancy. American Journal of Diseases of Children 137, 365368.Google Scholar
Gam, S. M., Shaw, H. A., & McCabe, K. D., (1978). Effect of maternal smoking on weight and weight gain between pregnancies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 31, 1302–1.303.Google Scholar
Garrow, J. S., (1987). Energy balance in man - an overview. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45. 11141119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gillmer, M. D. G.,(1983). Obesity in pregnancy -clinical and metabolic effects. In Nutrition in Pregnancy: proceedings of the tenth Study Group of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, p. 213230. [Campbell, D. M., and Gillmer, M. D. G., editors]. London: RCOG.Google Scholar
Goldberg, G. R., Prentice, A. M., Coward, W. A., Davies, H. L., Murgatroyd, P. R., Wensing, C., Black, A. E., Harding, M., & Sawyer, M., (1993). Longitudinal assessment of energy expenditure in pregnancy by the doubly labeled water method. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 57, 494505.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gordon, T., Kannel, W. B., Dawber, T. R., & McGee, D. (1975). Changes associated with quitting cigarette smoking: the Framingham Study. American Heart Journal 90. 322328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gormican, A., Valentine, J., & Satter, E., (1980). Relationships of maternal weight gain, prepregnancy weight, and infant birth weight: Interaction of weight factors in pregnancy. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 77, 662667.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greene, G. W., Smiciklas-Wright, H., Scholl, T. O. & Karp, R. J. (1988). Postpartum weight change: how much of the weight gained in pregnancy will be lost after delivery? Obstetrics and Gynecology 71, 701707.Google Scholar
Greene, J. A., (1939). Clinical study of the etiology of obesity. Annals of Internal Medicine 12, 17971803.Google Scholar
Gurney, R., (1936). The hereditary factor in obesity. Archives of Internal Medicine 57, 557561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, H. E., Ellison, G. T. H., Holliday, M. & Lucassen, E. (1996). Identifying the possible causes of maternal obesity. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 55, 231A.Google Scholar
Harrison, M. J., & Hicks, S. A. (1983). Postpartum concerns of mothers and their sources of help. Canadian Journal of Public Health 74. 325328.Google ScholarPubMed
Heliövaara, M., & Aromaa, A. (1981). Parity and obesity. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 35. 197199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunt, S. C., Daines, M. M., Adams, T. D., Heath, E. M. & Williams, R. R., (1995). Pregnancy weight retention in morbid obesity. Obesity Research 3, 121130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hytten, F. E. (1981). Weight gain in pregnancy -30 years of research. South African Medical Journal 60. 1519.Google Scholar
Hytten, F. (1990 a). Is it important or even useful to measure weight gain in pregnancy? Midwifery 6, 2832.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hytten, F., (1990 a). Nutritional requirements in pregnancy: what should the pregnant woman be eating? Midwifery 6, 9398.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hytten, F., (1990 c). Nutritional requirements in pregnancy: what happens if they are not met? Midwifery 6. 140145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hytten, F. E., (1991). Weight gain in pregnancy. In Clinicul Physiology in Obstetrics. 2nd edn. pp. 173–20. [Hytten, F. and Chamberlain, G., editors]. Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Hytten, F. E., Thomson, A. M. & Taggart, N. (1966). Total body water in normal pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth 73, 553561.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Illingworth, P. J., Jung, R. T., Howie, P. W., & Isles, T. E., (1987). Reduction in postprandial energy expenditure during pregnancy, British Medical Journal 294, 15731576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Illingworth, P. J., Jung, R. T., Howie, P. W., Leslie, P. & Isles, T. E., (1986). Diminution in energy expenditure during lactation. British Medical Journal 292, 437441.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
James, W. P. T., & Bisdee, J. T., (1982). Energy balance in obesity and its relevance to pregnancy. In Nutrition in Pregnancy: proceedings of the tenth Study Group of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, pp. p231241 [Campbell, D. M., and Gillmer, M. D. G., editors]. London: RCOG.Google Scholar
James, W. P. T., & Schofield, E. C., (1990). Human Energy Requirements: a manual for plnnners and Nutritionalists. Oxford: Oxford Medical Publications.Google Scholar
Johnston, E. M., (1991). Weight changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Progress in Food and Nutrition Science 15, 117157.Google ScholarPubMed
Joint Clothing Council (1957). Women's Measurements and Sizes. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Kahn, H. S., Williamson, D. F., & Stevens, J. A. (1991). Race and weight change in US women: the roles of socioeconomic and marital status. American Journal of Public Health 81, 319323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kam, M. N., (1957). Considerations arising from weight and some other variables recorded in the survey of women's measurements. Annals of Human Genetics 22. 385390.Google Scholar
Kawakami, S., Ishiwata, C., Hayashi, K., Kawaguchi, Y., Kondo, N., & Iimka, R., (1977). Alteration of maternal body weight in pregnancy and the postpartum. Keio Journal of Medicine 26, 5362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemsley, W. F. F., (1950). Weight and height of a population in 1943. Annals of Eugenics 15, 161183.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keppel, K. G., & Taffel, S. M. (1993). Pregnancy-related weight gain and retention: implications of the 1990 Institute of Medcine guidelines. American Journal of Public Health 83. 11001103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keys, A., & Brozek, J., (1953). Body fat in adult man. Physiological Reviews 33, 245325.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
King, A. G., (1949). Free-feeding pregnant women. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 58, 299307.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
King, J. C., Butte, N. F.. Bronstein, M. N., Kopp, L. E. & Lindquist, S. A., (1994). Energy metabolism during pregnancy: influence of maternal energy status. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 59. 439S445S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klesges, R. C., Klesges, L. M., Haddock, C. K., & Eck, L. H., (1992). A longitudinal analysis of the impact of dietary intake and physical activity on weight change in adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55. 818822.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knight, I., (1984). The Heights and Weights of Adults in Great Britain. London: HMSO. for Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.Google Scholar
Kotelchuck, M., (1994). The adequacy of prenatal care utilization index: its US distribution and association with low birthweight. American Journal of Public Health 84, 14861489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kramer, F. M., Stunkard, A. J., Marshall, K. A.. McKinney, S., & Liebschutz, J., (1993). Breast-feeding reduces maternal lower-body fat. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 93. 429433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kritz-Silverstein, D.. Barrett-Connor, E., & Wingard, D. L., (1989). The effect of parity on the later development of non-insulin dependent diebetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance. New England Journal of Medicine 321, 12141219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kumanyika, S., (1987). Obesity in black women. Epidemiologic Reviews 9, 3150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kusin, J. A., Kardjati, S., Renqvist, U., & Goei, K. (1992). Reproduction and maternal nutrition in Madura. Indonesia. Tropical and Geographica Medicine 44, 248255.Google ScholarPubMed
Kuskowska-Wolk, A., & Rossner, S. (1990). Prevalence of obesity in Sweden. Cross-sectional study of a representative adult sample. Journal of Internal Medicine 227, 241246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langhoff-Roos, J., Lindmark, G., & Gebre-Medhin, M. (1987). Maternal fat stores and fat accretion during pregnancy in relation to infant birth weight. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 94. 1171177.Google Scholar
Lawrence, M., McKillop, F. M., & Durnin, J. V. G. A. (1991). Women who gain more fat during pregnancy may not have bigger babies: implications for recommended weight gain during pregnancy. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 98, 254259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawrence, M., Singh, J., Lawrence, F., & Whithead, F. G., (1985). The energy cost of common daily activities in African women: increased expenditure in pregnancy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 753763.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lean, M. E. J.. Sutherland, H. W., & Garthwaite, P., (1989). Obesity and fat distribution. In Carbohydrate metabolism in pregnancy and the newborn. vol. 4. [Sutherland, H. W.Stowers, J. M. and Pearson, , editors]. London: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Lederman, S. A. (1993). The effect of pregnancy weight gain on later obesity. Obstetrics and Gynecology 82, 148155.Google ScholarPubMed
Lee-Feldstein, A., Harburg, E., & Hauenstein, L., (1980). Parity and blood pressure among four race-stress groups of females in Detroit. American Journal of Epidemiology 111, 356366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leifer, M. (1977). Psychological changes accompanying pregnancy and motherhood. Genetic Psychology Monographs 95. 5596.Google ScholarPubMed
Lowe, C. R. & Gibson, J. R. (1955). Changes in body weight associated with age and marital status. British Medical Journal 2, 10061008.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mcllroy, A. L. & Rodway, H. E. (1937). Weight-changes during and after pregnancy with special reference to the early diagnosis of toxaemia. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire 44. 221.–244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKeown, T. & Record, R. G. (1957). The influence of reproduction on body weight in women. Journal of Endocrinology 15, 393409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manning-Dalton, C. & Allen, L. H. (1983). The effects of lactation on energy and protein consumption, post-partum weight change and body composition of well nourished North American women. Nutrition Research 3. 293308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manson, J. E., Colditz, G. A. & Stampfer, M. J. (1994). Parity, ponderosity, and the paradox of a weight-preoccupied society. Journal of the American Medical Association, 271, 17881790.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manson, J. E., Rimm, E. B.. Colditz, G. A., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C.. Arky, R. A., Rosner, B.. Hennekens, C. H. & Speizer, F. E. (1992). Parity and incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. American Journal of Medicine 93, 13.–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martinez, H.. Allen, L. H., Lung 'aho, M., Ch´vez,, A.& Pelto, G. H. (1994). Maternal fatness in Mexican women predicts body composition changes in pregnancy and lactation. In Nutrienr Regulation During Pregnancy, Lactation and Infant Growth, pp. 99107 [Allen, L.king, J. and Lonnerdal, B., editors]. New York: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meserole, L. P.. Worthington-Roberts, B. S., Rees, J. M. & Wright, L. S. (1984). Prenatal weight gain and postpartum weight loss in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health Care 5. 2127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Millar, W. J. & Stephens, T. (1987). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Britain, Canada, and United States. American Journal of Public Health 77, 3841.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Milne, A. C., McNeill, G. & Zakary, A. (1991). Weight change as an indicator of energy imbalance during 7 day weighed food intake studies. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 26, 28 1–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morse, E. H., Clarke, R. P., Merrow, S. B. & Thibault, B. E. (1975). Comparison of the nutritional status of pregnant adolescents with adult pregnant women. II. Anthropometric and dietary findings. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 28. 14221428.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mullins, A. (1960). Overweight in pregnancy. Lancet 1, 146147CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, S. P. & Abrams, B. F. (1993). Changes in energy intakes during pregnancy and lactation in a national sample of United States women. American Journal of Public Health 83, 11611163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Dairy Council (1994). Marernal and Fetal Nutrition. Fact File 11. London: National Dairy Council.Google Scholar
National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel on the Health lmplications of Obesity (1985). Health implications of obesity. Annals of Internal Medicine 103, 10731077.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newcombe, R. G. (1982). Development of obesity in parous women. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 36, 306309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noppa, H. & Bengtsson, C. (1980). Obesity in relation to socioeconomic status. A population study of women in Gotenborg, Sweden. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 34, 139142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ohlin, A. & Rossner, S. (1990). Maternal body weight development after pregnancy. International Journal of Obesity 14, 159173.Google Scholar
Ohlin, A. & Rossner, S. (1994). Trends in eating patterns, physical activity and socio-demographic factors in relation to postpartum body weight development. British Journal of Nutrition 71, 457–470.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olsen, L. C. & Mundt, M. H. (1986). Postpartum weight loss in a nurse-midwifery practice. Journal of Nurse Midwifery 31, 177181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orr, R. D. & Simmons, J. J. (1979). Nutritional care in pregnancy: the patient's view. I-III. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 75, 126140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palmer, J. L., Jennings, G. E. & Massey, L. (1985). Development of an assessment form: attitude toward weight gain during pregnancy. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 85, 946949.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palta, M., prineas, R. J., Berman, R. & Hannan, P. (1982). Comparison of self-reported andmeasured height and weight. American Journal of Epidemiology 115, 223230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parham, E. S., Astrom, M. F. & King, S. H. (1990). The association of pregnancy weight gain with the mother's postpartum weight. Journal of the American Medical Association 90, 55–554.Google ScholarPubMed
Parker, I. D. & Abrams, B. A. (1993). Differences in postpartum weight retention between black and white mothers. Obstetrics and Gynecology 81, 768774.Google ScholarPubMed
Perri, M. G., Nezu, A. M. & Viegener, B. J. (1992). Improving the Long Term Management of Obesity: theory, research, and clinical guidelines. New York: John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
Piers, L. S., Diggavi, S. N., Thangam, S., Van Raaij, J. M. A., Shetty, P. S. & Hautvast, J. G. A. J. (1995). Changes in energy expenditure, anthropometry, and energy intake during thecourse of pregnancy and lactation in well-nourished Indian women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 61, 501513.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pipe, N. G. J., Smith, T., Halliday, D., Edmonds, C. J., Williams, C. & Coltart, T. M. (1979). Changes in fat, fat-free mass and body water in human normal pregnancy. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 86, 929940.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Plass, E. D. & Yoakam, W. A. (1929). Basal metabolism studies in normal pregnant women with normal and pathologicthyroid glands. Transactions of the American Gynecological Society 54, 165177.Google Scholar
Poppitt, S. D.. Prentice, A. M., Goldberg, G. R. & Whitehead, R. G. (1994). Energy-sparing strategies to protect human fetal growth. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 171, 118125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Poppitt, S. D., Prentice, A. M., Jéquier, E., Schutz, Y. & Whitehead, R. G. (1993). Evidence of energy sparing in Gambian women during pregnancy. A longitudinal study using whole-body calorimetry. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 57, 353364.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Potter, S., Hannum, S., McFarlin, B., Essex-Sorlie, D., Campbell, E. & Trupin, S. (1991). Does infant feeding method influence maternal postpartum weight loss? Journal of the American Dietetic Association 91. 441446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prentice, A. M., Cole, T. J., Foord, F. A., Lamb, W. H. & Whitehead, R. G. (1987). Increased birthweight after prenatal dietary supplementation of rural Afncan women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 46, 912925CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prentice, A. M, Goldberg, G. R., Davies, H. L., Murgatroyd, P. R. & Scott, W. (1989). Energy-sparing adaptations in human pregnancy assessed by whole-body calorimetry. British Journal of Nutrition 62, 522.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prentice, A. M., Whitehead, R. G., Roberts, S. B. & Paul, A. A. (1981). Long-term energy balance in child-bearing Gambian women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 34, 27902799.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quandt, S. A. (1983). Changes in maternal postpartum adiposity and infant feeding patterns. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 60, 455461CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rodin, J., Radke-Sharpe, N., Rebuffé-Scrive, M. & Greenwood, M. R. C. (1990). Weight cycling and fat distribution. International Journal of Obesity 14, 303310.Google ScholarPubMed
Rona, R. J. & Moms, R. W. (1982). National study of health and growth: social and family factors and overweight in English and Scottish parents. Annals of Human Biology 9, 147–15CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rookus, M. A., Rokebrand, P., Burema, J. & Deurenberg, P. (1987). The effect of pregnancy on the body mass index 9 months postpartum in 49 women. International Journal of Obesity 11, 609618.Google ScholarPubMed
Rössner, S. (1992). Pregnancy, weight cycling and weight gain in obesity. International Journal of Obesity 16, 145147.Google ScholarPubMed
Rössner, S. & Öhlin, A. (1995). Pregnancy as a risk factor for obesity. Lessons from the Stockholm pregnancy and weight development study. Obesity Research 3, 267s275s.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosso, P. (1987). Regulation of food intake during pregnancy and lactation. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 499, 191196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rutishauser, I. H. E. & Carlin, J. B. (1992). Body mass index and duration of breast feeding. A survival analysis during the first six months of life. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 46, 559565.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sadurskis, A., Kabir, N., Wager, J. & Forsum, E. (1988). Energy metabolism, body composition, and milk production in healthy Swedish women during lactation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 4449,CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Samra, J. S., Tang, L. C. H. & Obhrai, M. S. (1988). Changes in body weight between consecutive pregnancies. Lancet ii, 14201421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schauberger, C. W., Rooney, B. L. & Brimer, L. M. (1992). Factors that influence weight loss in the puerperium. Obstetrics and Gynecology 79, 424429.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scholl, T. O., Hediger, M. L., Schall, J. I., Ances, I. G. & Smith, W. K. (1995). Gestational weight gain, pregnancy outcome and postpartum weight retention. Obstetrics and Gynecology 86, 423–427.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scholl, T. O., Hediger, M. L., Cronk, C. E. & Schall, J. I. (1993). Maternal growth during pregnancy and lactation. Hormone Research 39 (Suppl. 3). 5967.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scholl, T. O., Hediger, M. L., Schall, J. I., Khoo, C-S. & Fischer, R. L. (1994). Maternal growth during pregnancy and the competition for nutrients. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60, 183188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scott, J. A. & Benjamin, B. (1948). Weight changes in pregnancy, Lancet 254, 550551CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Segel, J. S. & McAnamey, E. R. (1994). Adolescent pregnancy and subsequent obesity in African-American Girls. Journal of Adolescent Health 15, 491494.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheldon, J. H. (1949). Maternal obesity. Lancet 257, 869873.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sikorski, J., Wilson, J., Clement, S., Das, S. & Smeeton, N. (1996). A randomised controlled trial comparing two schedules of antenatal visits: the antenatal care project. British Medical Journal 312, 546553.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Singh, N. S., Singh, T. D., Singh, N. J. & Bhattacharyya, S. K. (1983). Weight pattern in puerperium. Journal of the lndian Medical Association 81, 121123.Google ScholarPubMed
Sinnathuray, T. A. & Wong, W. P. (1972). Physiological weight changes in pregnancy in Malaysian women. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 12, 122125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, D. E., Lewis, C. E., Caveny, J. L., Perkins, L. L., Burke, G. L. & Bild, D. E. (1994). Longitudinal changes in adiposity associated with pregnancy. Journal of the American Medical Association 271, 17471751.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sohlström, A. & Forsum, E. (1995). Changes in adipose tissue volume and distribution during reproduction in Swedish women as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 61, 287295.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sørensen, T. I. A. & Stunkard, A. J. (1993). Does obesity run in families because of genes? An adoption study using silhouettes as a measure of obesity. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica Suppl. 370, 6772.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
South-Paul, J. E., Rajagopal, K. R. & Tenholder, M. F. (1992). Exercise responses prior to pregnancy and in the postpartum state. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 24, 410414.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sowers, M-F., Crutchfield, M., Jannausch, M. L. & Russell-Aulet, M. (1996). Longitudinal changes in body composition in women approaching the midlife. Annals of Human Biology 23, 253265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stander, H. J. & Pastore, J. B. (1940). Weight changes during pregnancy and puerperium. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 39, 928937.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevens-Simon, C. & McAnamey, E. R. (1992). Adolescent pregnancy. Gestational weight gain and maternal and infant outcomes. American Journal of Diseases of Children 146, 13591364.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stevens-Simon, C., Roghmann, K. J. & McAnamey, E. R. (1992). Relationship of self-reported pre-pregnant weight & weight gain during pregnancy to maternal body habitus and age. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 92, 8586.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stewart, A. L. (1982). The reliability and validity of self-reported weight and height. Journal of Chronic Diseases 35, 295309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Strang, V. R. & Sullivan, P. L. (1985). Body image attitudes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Journal of Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing 14, 332337.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taggart, N. R., Holliday, R. M., Billewicz, W. Z., Hytten, F. E. & Thomson, A. M. (1967). Changes in skinfolds during pregnancy. British Journal of Nutrition 21, 439451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taylor, E. S. (1971). Beck's Obstetrical Practice, 9th edn. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins.Google Scholar
Thomson, A. M. & Billewicz, W. Z. (1965). Maternal weight for height. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 24, 1920.Google Scholar
Thomson, A. M., Billewicz, W. Z., Thomson, B. & McGregor, I. A. (1966). Body weight changes during pregnancy and lactation in rural African (Gambian) women. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth 73, 724733.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
United States Department of Agriculture (1941). Women's measurements for garment and pattern consuuction. USDA Miscellaneous Publication no.454.Google Scholar
United States Institute of Medicine (1990). Nutrition during Pregnancy. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Van Loan, M. D., Kopp, L. E., King, J. C., Wong, W. W. & Mayclin, P. L. (1995). Fluid changes during pregnancy: use of bioimpedance spectroscopy. Journal of Applied Physiology 78, 10371042.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Raaij, J. M. A., Peek, M. E. M., Vermaat-Miedema, S. H., Schonk, C. M. & Hautvast, J. G. A. J. (1988). New equations for estimating body fat mass in pregnancy from body density or total body water. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 2429.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Raaij, J. M. A., Schonk, C. M., Vermaat-Miedema, S. H., Peek, M. E. M. & Hautvast, J. G. A. J. (1989). Body fat mass and basal metabolic rate in Dutch women before, during and after pregnancy: a reappraisal of energy cost of pregnancy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 49, 765772.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van RaaijJ. M. A, J. M. A,, Schonk, C. M.. Vermaat-Miedema, S. H.. Peek, M. E. M. & Hautvast, J. G. A. J. (1990). Energy cost of physical activity throughout pregnancy and the first year postpartum in Dutch women with sedentary lifestyles. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 52. 234239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Raaij, J. M. A.. Vermaat-Miedema, S. H., Schonk, C. M., Peek, M. E. M. & Hautvast, J. G. A. J. (1987). Energy requirements of pregnancy in the Netherlands. Lancet 2, 953955.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waters, E. G. (1942). Weight studies in pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 43, 826832.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weiss, W., Jackson, E. C., Niswander, K. & Eastman, N. J. (1969). The influence on birthweight of change in maternal weight gain in successive pregnancies in the same woman. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 7, 210233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, R. G., Lawrence, M. & prentice, A. M. (1986). Maternal nutrition and breast feeding. Human Nutrition Applied Nutrition 40A. Suppl. 1, 110.Google Scholar
Williamson, D. F., Madans, J., Anda, R. F., Kleinman, J. C., Giovino, G. A. & Byers, T. (1991). Smoking cessation and severity of weight gain in a national cohort. New England Journal of Medicine 324, 739745.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williamson, D. F., Madans, J., Pamuk, E., Flegal, K. M.. Kendrick, J. S. & Serdula, M. K. (1994). A prospective study of childbearing and 10-year weight gain in US white women 25 to 45 years of age. International Journal of ObesityGoogle ScholarPubMed
WinkvistA, A,, Rasmussen, K. M. & Habicht, J-P. (1992). A new definition of maternal depletion syndrome. American Journal of Public Health 82. 691–494.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yamagishi, E., Kitade, K., Murakami, M. & Hosoki, M. (1990). Factors affecting weight gain during normal pregnancy. In A Midwife's Gift: love, skill and knowledge: Proceedings of the International Conference of Midwifery 22. 324–3 21.Google Scholar
Zaadstra, B. M., Seidell, J. C., Van Noord, P. A. H., te Velde, E. R., Habbema, J. D. F.. Vrieswijk, B. & Karbaat, J. (1993). Fat and female fecundity: prospective study of effect of body fat distribution on conception rates. British Medical Journal 306, 484–481.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed