Overweight/obesity, gestational weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and maternal/neonatal complications in the military

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of overweight/obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) among military beneficiaries and to assess associations of these risk factors with maternal/neonatal complications and substantial postpartum weight retention (PPWR).

Methods

We obtained data for 48,391 TRICARE beneficiaries who gave birth in 2018 or 2019 in the United States. We used logistic regression and ANOVA to examine relationships among overweight/obesity, GWG, maternal/neonatal complications, and substantial PPWR.

Results

Most TRICARE beneficiaries (75%) had excessive GWG, and 42% had substantial PPWR. Dependents were less likely than active-duty women to have excessive GWG (odds ratio [OR] = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60–0.88). Women with excessive GWG were three times more likely to have substantial PPWR (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 3.14–4.06). Those with excessive GWG were more likely to have maternal/neonatal complications (e.g., pregnancy-induced hypertension, cesarean delivery).

Conclusions

Excessive GWG is frequent among TRICARE beneficiaries, particularly active-duty personnel, and is strongly associated with costly maternal/neonatal complications. Substantial PPWR is also common in this population, with excessive GWG as a key risk factor.