Pregnancy-related weight gain and retention: implications of the 1990 Institute of Medicine guidelines

Objectives. Guidelines from the Institute of Medicine's 1990 report call for weight gains during pregnancy that are higher than those previously recommended. This study examines the potential implications of compliance with these guidelines for postpartum weight retention. Methods. Weight retention 10 to 18 months following delivery was examined for selected women who had live births in the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey. Women's actual weight gains during pregnancy were retrospectively classified according to the Institute of Medicine's guidelines. Results. Weight retention following delivery increased as weight gain increased, and Black women retained more weight than White women with comparable weight gain. The median retained weight for White women who gained the amount now being recommended was 1.6 lb whereas that for Black women was 7.2 lb. Conclusions. If pregnant White women gain weight according to the institute's guidelines, they need not be concerned about retaining a substantial amount of weight postpartum. Our findings suggest, however, that Black women are in need of advice about how to lose weight following delivery.
Weight gains higher than those previously recommended for women during pregnancy and varied to account for the woman's pre-pregnancy weight are set forth in guidelines published in 1990 by the Institute of Medicine. A study of the potential implications for weight retention after delivery examined by this study found that weight retention increased as weight gain increased. More weight was retained by black women than by white women with comparable weight gains. For white women who gained the amount now being recommended, the median retained weight was 1.6 pounds, while for black women it was 7.2 pounds. While 45% of black women retained nine or more pounds, only 25% of white women retained this much weight. White women need not worry about retaining excess weight after delivery as long as they stay within the guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy. Black women tend to be advised to gain too little weight, so they need correct information on both weight gain during pregnancy and weight loss after delivery.