The influence of various types of physical activity on changes in body fat and weight during the postpartum period

Abstract

Few studies have examined physical activity patterns during the postpartum (pp) period and the contributions of different types of activity to changes in body weight and fat during this time. We analyzed data from 499 women with singleton pregnancies who participated in the Postpartum PIN Study to examine the association between physical activity and weight and body fat changes between 3 and 12 months pp. Body fat % from BIA, weight, and height were measured by study investigators. Total physical activity, as well as recreational, work, and childcare activity, during the previous 7 days was self‐reported and converted into units of MET hrs/wk. Women had average increases of 1.25 (SD 38.30), 6.80 (SD 23.0), and 1.30 (SD 21.93) MET hrs/wk of total, work, and childcare activity, respectively, and an average decrease of 7.74 (SD 14.76) MET hrs/wk of recreational activity. The mean change in body weight and % fat was −1.74 kg (SD 4.21) and −1.60% (SD 3.25), respectively. Linear regression was used to estimate the associations between changes in recreational, work, childcare, and total activity (MET hrs/wk) at 3 and 12 months pp with changes in weight and % body fat during the same period, adjusted for covariates. An increase in MET hrs/wk of work activity between 3 and 12 months pp was associated with significant decreases in body weight and % fat by 12 months pp. Significant associations were not found for the other activity domains.