Postpartum depression increases the risk of 11 lbs weight gain 2.5-fold

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Tuesday, July 29, 2008 2:18 pm Email this article
Postpartum depression increases the risk of retaining at least 11 pounds of the weight gained during pregnancy one year after giving birth 2.5-fold according to a study from researchers at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Another study reported that women who reported "depressive symptoms lost less than half as much weight as women without depression".

Postpartum depression is estimated to affect between 10 and 15 percent of women. Subjects

Subjects: 2128 women

The study involved 2,128 women who delivered babies.

 

Conclusion

Conclusion: Postpartum depression is associated with substantial weight retention

“In summary, our study provides evidence that new-onset postpartum depression is associated with substantial weight retention after childbirth,” the authors of the study concluded.

REFERENCE

Herring S, Rich-Edwards JW, Oken E, Rifas-Shiman SL, Kleinman K, Gillman M. Association of postpartum depression with weight retention 1 year after childbirth. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Jun, 16(6):1296-301.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Sharon J. Herring
Obesity Prevention Program
Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention
Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Depression

• Postpartum depression

• Pregnancy