Weight cycling in adulthood linked to increased risk of gestational weight gain

Pregnant women with a history of weight cycling as adults are likely to experience gestational weight gain, according to a study.

Researchers used data collected from participants who participated in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. Eligible participants included those who were between 18 and 45 years of age and had a singleton pregnancy.

The primary outcome of total gestational weight gain was assessed in relation to the history of weight cycling. Weight cycling was defined as the number of times an individual self-reported losing at least 20 lbs in adulthood (excluding after pregnancy).

A total of 1,188 participants (mean age 31.5 years, mean prepregnancy BMI 25.6 kg/m²) who had complete exposure, outcome, and covariate data were included in the analysis. Less than half of the participants (47.2 percent) reported any history of weight cycling, and the mean gestational weight gain was 16.9 kg.

Compared with participants who reported no history of weight cycling, those who did gained more weight throughout their entire pregnancy (p<0.001 for trend). The mean gestational weight gain was 1.7 kg for participants who reported 1 weight cycle, 3.2 kg for those who reported 2 weight cycles, and 6.2 kg for those who reported ≥3 weight cycles.

The findings may help with the identification of women at increased risk of excessive gestational weight gain. More studies are needed to evaluate potential implications for maternal and child health.