Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 Dec;19(12):2425-8. doi: 10.1038/oby.2011.163. Epub 2011 Jun 23.
Parity is associated with weight retention and has long-lasting and detrimental effects on the health of women. Previous studies have shown that increasing parity was independently associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Postpartum weight is made up of several components including uterine and mammary tissues, body water (intracellular (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW)), and fat. These components change in variable amounts postpartum, thereby distinctly affecting the interpretation of individual weight retention; however, it is unclear which components contribute to weight retention. The aims of this longitudinal study were to evaluate changes in body composition during the postpartum period and to investigate their effects on weight retention. This prospective study examined 41 healthy, pregnant women who gave birth at Korea University Guro Hospital. We measured body composition at 2 days, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Weight decreased during this postpartum period (P < 0.001); the postpartum weight retention from prepregnancy to 6 weeks postpartum was 4.43 ± 4.0 kg. Among various body composition components, ECW, ICW, total body water, and fat-free mass (FFM) decreased postpartum. However, fat mass (FM) and visceral fat area, the components that experienced the greatest changes, increased postpartum. Our results demonstrate that the postpartum period is associated with a preferential accumulation of adipose tissue in the visceral compartment, even though overall body weight is decreased. Further studies are needed to evaluate the changes in body composition over longer time periods and their long-term effects on health.
均衡性与体重保留有关，并对女性健康产生持久且有害的影响。先前的研究表明，生育次数增加与代谢综合征的患病率增加独立相关。产后体重由包括子宫和乳腺组织、身体水分（细胞内液 [ICW] 和细胞外液 [ECW]）和脂肪在内的几个组成部分构成。这些组成部分在产后以不同的量发生变化，从而明显影响对个体体重保留的解释；然而，目前尚不清楚哪些组成部分导致了体重保留。本纵向研究的目的是评估产后期间身体成分的变化，并研究其对体重保留的影响。本前瞻性研究检查了在韩国大学古罗医院分娩的 41 名健康孕妇。我们在产后 2 天、2 周和 6 周时使用生物电阻抗分析测量身体成分。产后期间体重下降（P < 0.001）；从怀孕前到产后 6 周的产后体重保留为 4.43 ± 4.0 公斤。在各种身体成分成分中，ECW、ICW、总身体水分和去脂体重（FFM）在产后减少。然而，脂肪量（FM）和内脏脂肪面积，这两个变化最大的成分，在产后增加。我们的研究结果表明，尽管总体体重下降，但产后期间与内脏隔室中脂肪组织的优先积累有关。需要进一步的研究来评估更长时间内身体成分的变化及其对健康的长期影响。
