75 Percent New Mothers Carrry Post Pregnancy Weight Till One Year After Birth

Notwithstanding celebrity moms losing their pregnancy weight in a jiffy, a new study says 75 percent of new mothers carry their weight into the next year after giving birth.

The study observed data of  nearly 800 low-income women and found that 33 percent women, who had a normal weight before birth, gained weight or even became obese one year after giving birth

 Nearly one-quarter of all new mothers kept more than 20 extra pounds.

"This unfortunately showed that pregnancy itself is leading to obesity or [being] overweight for a substantial number of women," said study author Dr. Loraine Endres, an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago, reports Medical Express.

"It's a very important issue," she added. "We all see the rising number of obese people in our country and the health consequences that come from that, such as diabetes andhigh blood pressure. I really wanted to see where this is starting for women and to see if there is any way to turn it around."

According to data of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, over  35 percent of women older than 20 are obese and another 34 percent are overweight in the United States.

The study subjects were followed for one year after giving birth with three interviews and  height and weight measurements were taken at six and 12 months postpartum. The study noticed an average weight gain of 32 pounds and one year after birth the ladies on an average carried 73 pounds.

Seventy five percent were heavier than their pre-pregnancy weight and 47 percent reported a gain of 10 pounds.

"The biggest problem is that a large number of women gain too much during pregnancy," Endres said. "The more you gain, the harder it is to ever lose that weight. From the moment women conceive, as health care providers we need to start talking with them about appropriate weight gain and remaining active."

Also the myth of eating for two should be busted and only an extra 200-300 calories should be consumed.

A good method of avoiding the extra gain is breastfeeding and exercising regularly. Women need to see a doctor more frequently after giving birth and chalk out a weight loss program beneficial to a new mother.

The study was published online Dec. 8 in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.