Body weight and fat trajectories of Black and White women in the first postpartum year

This study aimed to investigate changes in body weight and fat among Black and White women during the first year after giving birth, focusing on the retention of fat mass and abdominal fat. The researchers used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to measure body composition in 49 Black women and 85 White women at 6-8 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum. The results showed that weight, fat mass, percent body fat, and fat in specific body regions decreased in White women but not in Black women. Overall, there was a higher fat mass at 6 months compared to 6-8 weeks, independent of weight change, and an increase in visceral and android fat over time. Black women were found to be less likely to lose weight and fat during the postpartum period, with a preferential retention of abdominal fat.