The Association of Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Postpartum Weight Retention: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study aimed to identify physical activity trajectories through pregnancy and examine associations with postpartum weight retention.

Methods

We included pregnancies from one health care system from 2009 to 2020. Data were collected from electronic health records and physical activity from self-report before pregnancy and during each trimester. High, medium, and low physical activity groups were identified using discrete trajectory analysis. The outcome was the percentage of postpartum weight retention in the first year after pregnancy, measured as postpartum BMI as a percentage of prepregnancy BMI. All postpartum BMI measures from 21 through 365 days were analyzed using mixed effects regression models using R version 4.4.1.

Results

Among 58,828 pregnanci

SUBMITTER: Young DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12850546 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature