INTRODUCTION:
Few studies have examined associations of maternal intake of proinflammatory and proinsulinemic food types with substantial postpartum weight retention (SPPWR; ≥5 kg) at 6 months.
METHODS:
We studied 308 mother-infant pairs enrolled in the Rise and SHINE study, a longitudinal birth cohort. Maternal diet, including consumption of foods with proinflammatory and proinsulinemic properties such as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), red/processed meats, sweet snacks and fast food, and fruit/vegetables, was assessed in the third trimester and at 1-month postpartum via the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Postpartum weight retention was calculated as the difference between pregravid and 6-month postpartum weight.
RESULTS:
At 6-months, 29.6% of the mothers had SPPWR. In multivariable analyses adjusted for race/ethnicity, income, maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain, we found that each additional serving/day of SSBs was associated with higher odds of SSPWR (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.85). Intake of red/processed meats (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 0.55, 7.13) in the third trimester, and SSBs (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 0.94, 1.72), red/processed meats (OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.12) and fast food (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 0.17, 10.79) at 1-month postpartum were also associated with higher odds of SPPWR but confidence intervals were wide and spanned 1.0.
CONCLUSION:
Our results show that consumption of SSBs, and possibly other proinflammatory and proinsulinemic foods in the third trimester and 1-month postpartum is associated with SPPWR. Avoiding such beverages and foods during this window may reduce SPPWR and the risk for long term weight retention.
