The impact of psychosocial stressors on postpartum weight retention

Excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention are implicated in future morbidity in women. To understand whether psychosocial stressors contribute to weight retention, we used data collected in a cohort of postpartum women and analyzed measures of stress, depression, social support, and health-related quality of life. Depressive symptoms at delivery and worse health-related quality of life and lower stress at 3 months postpartum were associated with 3-month weight retention. Interventions targeting depression and improving quality of life may further reduce weight retained.