Funding outcome

Pregnancy and the postpartum period is a critical time in a woman's life where the risk of long-term weight gain and obesity is high. Excessive gestational weight gain is common with over 60% of women exceeding current Institute of Medicine guidelines. Following delivery, inability to return to pre-pregnancy weight increases the risk for long-term weight retention. Weight retention in the post partum period is associated with an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome later in life. Although nutrition and physical activity are well known predictors of weight status, sleep is emerging as a third critical factor. Postpartum women typically experience significant changes in their sleep (shorter duration with frequent awakenings), yet the impact on postpartum health (including weight retention) is virtually unknown. Therefore we wish to examine the interaction between sleep, physical activity and nutrition on weight retention in the first year after delivery. Women (n=90, <12 months postpartum) wore an accelerometer for 7 days, 24h/day to measure physical (in)activity and sleep. Questionnaires on sleep quality, nutrition, health history, infant sleep and activity were also collected. We hypothesized that women with highly fragmented sleep would have higher weight retention than women with higher quality, longer duration sleep as a result of reduced diet quality, increased caloric intake and decreased physical activity.