Association of physical activity and consumption of snacks on weight retention at six months after childbirth

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum weight gain places a woman at risk of developing overweight and obesity in later life.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with weight retention at six months after childbirth among mothers who attended child welfare clinics in two medical officer of health (MOH) areas. METHODS: This was a descriptive-cross sectional study conducted among all mothers who had been registered before 12 weeks in the antenatal clinics during their last pregnancy and attended field child-welfare clinics for pentavalent vaccination. The sample was 387 recruited consecutively until the required sample was achieved. Validated culturally adopted, pretested questionnaires were used. Logistic regression analysis was performed, and the results expressed as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The percentage of mothers who retained weight from a booking visit to six months after childbirth was 67.8%. Low physical activity (aOR=12.0; 95% CI=6.0, 23.8) and consuming ≥1 snack/day (aOR=2.1; 95% CI=1.3, 3.4) had positively; and being obese or overweight at booking visit (aOR=0.4; 95% CI=0.3, 0.7) and age >33 years (aOR=0.5; 95% CI=0.3, 0.9) negatively associated with weight retention at six months after childbirth. No significant associations were observed with parity, education status, income, social class, employment, sleep hours, breastfeeding status, quality of diet and psycho-social stress. CONCLUSIONS: Low physical activity and consuming ≥1 snack per day, aged ≤33 years and not being obese or overweight at booking visit were associated with weight retention at six months after childbirth. KEYWORDS: Body mass index, Obesity, Physical activity, Postpartum, Weight retention