Abstract
Phase angle (PhA) is a body composition parameter that measures changes in the amount and quality of soft tissue. Few studies have explored PhA in pregnancy or postpartum. The aim of this study was to explore the PhA during the first year postpartum in a Belgian cohort using data from the control group of the INTER-ACT study, an intervention trial targeting those with excess gestational weight gain. A secondary aim was to examine associations between PhA and potential explanatory variables. Women aged ≥18 with excessive weight gain in a singleton pregnancy and without a chronic disease were eligible. Data collection included anthropometry as well as demographic and lifestyle questionnaires at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months postpartum. Body composition, including PhA, was measured with the Tanita MC780SMA device. Data was analysed using correlation and mixed model analyses. A total of 509 participants (median age 31.2) were included. The median PhA at 6 weeks postpartum was 5.8°. Higher PhA values were seen in multiparous women (p = 0.02) but there was no association with any other lifestyle or demographic factors. PhA values were positively associated with muscle mass and BMI (r = 0.13, p = 0.004 and r = 0.18, p < 0.001) at 6 weeks postpartum. PhA increased slightly in the 12 months postpartum, which was related to a decrease in fat percentage (p = 0.004). Further research in the pregnant/postpartum population is needed to elucidate any links with perinatal or future health outcomes.
Highlights
Women aged ≥ 18 years with a history of excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) in a singleton pregnancy were recruited for the study at day 2 or 3 postpartum and randomised to the intervention or control arm of the study at 6 weeks postpartum
Phase angle (PhA) was not measured in 15 participants
We investigated the association between PhA at 6 weeks postpartum and several lifestyle factors, namely, energy intake, sedentary activity, physical activity and breastfeeding status, finding no association
Summary
The female body undergoes significant changes in order to support fetal and infant growth, development and lactation. Recommendations for appropriate gestational weight gain (GWG), established by the National Academy of Medicine in 2009, are based on prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), with those who start pregnancy in the overweight or obese categories being advised to gain less weight than those in the healthy weight or underweight categories [2]. Both excess and inadequate GWG are linked to adverse outcomes, Int. J.
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