Reducing postpartum weight retention through a correspondence intervention

OBJECTIVE: Since post-pregnancy weight retention may contribute to the development of obesity, we sought to determine whether a behavioral weight loss intervention was effective in returning women to their pre-pregnancy weight.

METHOD: Ninety women who had given birth in the past 3–12 months and whose weight exceeded their pre-pregnancy weight by at least 6.8 kg were randomly assigned to either: a) a six-month behavioral weight loss intervention, delivered via correspondence or b) a no-treatment control group. Assessments of body weight, physical activity and eating patterns were conducted at pre-treatment and six months (post-treatment).

RESULTS: During the six month treatment, subjects in the correspondence condition lost significantly more weight than control subjects (7.8 kg vs 4.9 kg, P=0.03) and lost a greater percentage of their excess postpartum weight (79% vs 44%, P=0.01). Furthermore, a significantly greater percentage of correspondence subjects than controls returned to their pre-pregnancy weight (33% vs 11.5%, P<0.05). Weight loss in the correspondence group was correlated with completion of self-monitoring records (r=0.50, P<0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: A behavioral weight loss intervention, delivered via correspondence, appears to be effective in reducing women’s postpartum weight retention. Future studies should examine the acceptability and the long-term impact of a correspondence postpartum weight loss intervention.