Racial and ethnic disparities in postpartum weight retention: A narrative review mapping the literature to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework.

Abstract

A Review of the Literature Using the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework to Create a Roadmap of the Studies Investigating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Excess Weight Retained After Pregnancy. Three out of four people who give birth retain excess weight at 1-year post-pregnancy. This is concerning, as weight that is retained following pregnancy is associated with increased risk for the development of disease. People from racial and ethnic minority groups experience weight retention more frequently post-pregnancy. Black and Hispanic/Latina/o/x birthing people are more likely to begin pregnancy overweight or obese. They are also more likely to retain excess weight following pregnancy. Investigating these risks in people from racially/ethnically diverse backgrounds may be an important way to address disparities in excess weight retained post-pregnancy. This review of the literature used a tool called the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework to map the literature to date on racial and ethnic disparities in excess weight retained post-pregnancy. We used the NIMHD Research Framework as a visual guide of the existing research about excess weight retained following pregnancy. Results illustrate the levels and domains at which research has been investigated. These results reveal that efforts have been focused at the individual level, with most attention given to diet and activity. Mapping the literature to the NIMHD Research Framework sheds light on gaps in the research. Mapping the literature has revealed a need for investigations that make connections between the levels and domains of the Framework, so that we may understand underlying factors that contribute to health disparities.