A recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health examines weight loss program, sedentary behavior (SB), and physical activity in couples and the way these aspects relate to changes in body mass index (BMI) in the course of the transition to parenthood.

Study: Dietary intake, physical activity and sedentary behavior and association with BMI in the course of the transition to parenthood: a prospective dyadic study. Image Credit: Starocean / Shutterstock.com

Weight changes in latest parents

Healthy dietary patterns, lower SB, and adequate PA while pregnant can result in helpful health outcomes for the mother and child. A healthy weight loss program and regular PA may also help postpartum females shed some pounds gained while pregnant and forestall weight retention.

Throughout the transition to parenthood, parents are at an increased risk of unfavorable body weight changes. Nevertheless, there stays an absence of knowledge on whether these body weight or composition changes are linked to changes in energy balance-related behavior (EBRB).

Concerning the study

In the current study, researchers investigate EBRB changes in parents from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum and the way these relate to BMI changes. Expectant nulliparous couples were recruited from June to December 2018 from 4 hospitals in Belgium.

Baseline measurements were obtained at the tip of the primary trimester. Follow-up measurements were acquired six weeks and 6 months postpartum.

During each visit, researchers obtained anthropometric measurements and provided participants with accelerometers. Participants were instructed to wear accelerometers for a minimum of 12 hours every day for one week after anthropometric measurements and keep records of their activity when not wearing the device. From this data, time spent on light-intensity (LIPA) or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was estimated.

One week after the visit, participants accomplished a web based questionnaire on sociodemographics, weight loss program, and child-feeding practices. The 22-item food frequency questionnaire assessed dietary intake over the past month. Sociodemographics were evaluated at baseline, and knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding was acquired.

Data on neonatal sex, gestational age, and moms’ last recorded weight before delivery were obtained from medical records. The first objective of the study was to research EBRB changes, whereas the secondary aim was to find out how BMI changes were related to EBRB changes over time. Data were analyzed using dyadic longitudinal analytic methods.

Study findings

The researchers initially screened 152 couples at baseline and included 144 for evaluation. Females with a miscarriage, in vitro fertilization, or a history of bariatric surgery and their partners were excluded. Fifteen females and 17 males were faraway from the study as a result of an absence of follow-up data.

Overall, females significantly reduced their fruit intake and increased alcohol consumption from baseline to postpartum. A trend toward a major increase in energy intake was observed at six months postpartum relative to baseline.

In males, significant reductions in alcohol consumption were observed at six months postpartum relative to baseline. Men and women exhibited significant differences in SB and PA at postpartum time points as in comparison with their baseline values.

Females had significantly increased LIPA at six weeks and 6 months postpartum. At six weeks postpartum, lower MVPA and SB were observed in females.

Males significantly increased LIPA by six months postpartum and reduced MVPA relative to baseline, with no significant changes in SB.

BMI changes from six weeks to 6 months postpartum were negatively related to changes in fruit intake in females. Each €1,000 increase in monthly household income was related to a decrease in the typical BMI by 0.18 kg/m². A negative trend was observed between BMI and fruit intake changes in males.

Conclusions

Moms reduced fruit consumption but increased alcohol intake from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum; nevertheless, there have been no changes in vegetable intake and total energy intake. Maternal LIPA increased over time, whereas MVPA was lower at six weeks postpartum until ultimately returning to baseline levels by six months postpartum. Maternal SB was significantly lower postpartum.

Changes in dietary intake weren’t observed in males in the course of the transition to parenthood. Nevertheless, paternal LIPA increased at six months postpartum, while MVPA decreased relative to baseline. There have been no significant differences in paternal SB over time.

Maternal BMI changes were positively related to gestational weight gain and negatively related to household income and every day fruit intake changes. BMI changes weren’t related to PA or SB changes in either parent.

Taken together, the study findings have implications for designing and delivering lifestyle interventions while pregnant and postpartum. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers could utilize these results to adequately support parents for healthy lifestyles by implementing multi-level couple- or family-focused approaches.