Does Daily Self-Weighing Contribute to Postpartum Weight Loss? A Secondary Analysis of Daily Postpartum Weights among Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective This study was aimed to examine the impact of daily self-weighing via remote monitoring on postpartum weight loss.

Study Design This was a secondary analysis of a nonrandomized controlled trial comprised of postpartum women with diagnosed hypertensive-related disorders in pregnancy who received a tablet device linked to Bluetooth-enabled equipment including a scale and blood pressure cuff. In addition to blood pressure monitoring, participants were instructed to perform daily self-weighing. The primary outcome of this study was to determine whether postpartum women who performed daily self-weighing lost more weight than those who did not, with a 42-day endpoint based on a 6-week postpartum visit weight.

Results Overall, 214 women participated in this program and 214 received usual care. Median weight loss for women participating in the remote blood pressure monitoring system was 23.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 17–30) pounds versus 23.0 (IQR: 17–29) pounds among controls. Weight loss did not vary by prepregnancy obesity (median: 20 pounds [IQR: 17–28 pounds] for nonobese and 23 [IQR: 17–30] pounds for women with obesity, p = 0.16). Women who weighed themselves more than half of follow-up days lost a median of 24 pounds (IQR: 17–30 pounds) compared with 20.5 pounds (IQR: 14–29 pounds), p = 0.06. Women who weighed themselves more than half of follow-up days lost a mean of 11.4% (standard deviation [SD] = 0.41%) of body weight compared with 9.1% (SD = 0.74%; p = 0.01). The amount of weight loss in the telehealth group was correlated with the number of daily weights performed (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.164, p = 0.025). Postpartum weight loss for daily self-weighing participants was most notable in the first 2 weeks with ongoing weight loss up to the 42-day (6-week) endpoint of this secondary analysis.

Conclusion Daily self-weighing alone may be insufficient to promote postpartum weight loss. However, there was a slight trend toward more weight loss with more frequent weighing.

Key Points

• Daily self-weighing is insufficient for postpartum weight loss.

• Women who weighed themselves more lost slightly more weight.

• Weight loss was the most notable in the first 2 weeks.

• Its use as one part of a program may be worth studying.

Keywords

postpartum weight loss - daily self-weighing - weight management - pregnancy - gestational weight gain - obesity - postpartum hypertension

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