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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Women's Health

Associations of pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, and postpartum weight retention with metabolic health: Findings from the MISC cohort study

  • Maryam Alameddine1
  • Hadia Radwan2,3
  • Nada Abbas3
  • Mona Hashim2,3
  • Katia Hazim3
  • Hayder Hasan2,3
  • Reyad S. Obeid2,3
  • Hessa Ghazal4
  • Sara Mohammed Ahmed Rady1
  • Marwa Al Hilali5
  • Farah Naja2,3
5 affiliations
  1. 1Medical Program Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, Manama, Bahrain
  2. 2Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
  3. 3Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  4. 4Sharjah Child Friendly Office, Sharjah Health Authority, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  5. 5Clinical Nutrition Department, Emirates Health Services, Al Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Abstract

Background: Maternal weight before, during, and after pregnancy is associated with postpartum metabolic health; however, the independent contributions of these weight indicators remain insufficiently examined.

Objectives: This study assessed the associations of pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and postpartum weight retention (PPWR) with metabolic outcomes.

Design: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of pregnant women followed to 6 months postpartum in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods: A total of 256 women were recruited during their third trimester of gestation from Primary Health Clinics and Mother and Child Centers. Weight information was obtained for three time points: before pregnancy, at delivery, and 6 months postpartum. Blood biomarkers (lipids, insulin, glucose, and inflammatory markers) were measured at 6 months postpartum. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the associations between weight indicators and each metabolic outcome, as well as with having ≥3 abnormal/elevated outcomes, based on the population median of three.

Results: Pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity (59.4%) was significantly associated with elevated insulin (OR=3.91, CI: 1.36-11.24), interleukin-6 (OR=5.11, CI: 1.71-15.28), CRP (OR=5.34, CI: 1.58-18.01), LDL (OR=2.89, CI: 1.08-7.74) and total cholesterol (OR=3.05, CI: 1.14-8.15). Among participants, 85.1% had inappropriate GWG, and 73.2% retained some weight postpartum. GWG was associated only with elevated TNF-α, while PPWR was linked to elevated fasting serum glucose. The odds of having ≥3 metabolic abnormalities were significantly higher among women with elevated pre-pregnancy BMI (OR=3.44, CI: 1.36–8.68).

Conclusion: Among the three weight indicators examined, pre-pregnancy BMI showed the most consistent associations with postpartum metabolic biomarkers. These findings suggest that achieving a healthy weight before pregnancy may be an important target for reducing cardiometabolic risk.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{alameddine2026associations,
  title = {{Associations of pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, and postpartum weight retention with metabolic health: Findings from the MISC cohort study}},
  author = {Maryam Alameddine and Hadia Radwan and Nada Abbas and Mona Hashim and Katia Hazim and Hayder Hasan and Reyad S. Obeid and Hessa Ghazal and Sara Mohammed Ahmed Rady and Marwa Al Hilali and Farah Naja},
  journal = {Women's Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1177/17455057261493237},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261493237},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Associations of pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, and postpartum weight retention with metabolic health: Findings from the MISC cohort study
AU  - Maryam Alameddine
AU  - Hadia Radwan
AU  - Nada Abbas
AU  - Mona Hashim
AU  - Katia Hazim
AU  - Hayder Hasan
AU  - Reyad S. Obeid
AU  - Hessa Ghazal
AU  - Sara Mohammed Ahmed Rady
AU  - Marwa Al Hilali
AU  - Farah Naja
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
JO  - Women's Health
DO  - 10.1177/17455057261493237
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261493237
AB  - Background: Maternal weight before, during, and after pregnancy is associated with postpartum metabolic health; however, the independent contributions of these weight indicators remain insufficiently examined.  Objectives: This study assessed the associations of pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and postpartum weight retention (PPWR) with metabolic outcomes.  Design: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of pregnant women followed to 6 months postpartum in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  Methods: A total of 256 women were recruited during their third trimester of gestation from Primary Health Clinics and Mother and Child Centers. Weight information was obtained for three time points: before pregnancy, at delivery, and 6 months postpartum. Blood biomarkers (lipids, insulin, glucose, and inflammatory markers) were measured at 6 months postpartum. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the associations between weight indicators and each metabolic outcome, as well as with having ≥3 abnormal/elevated outcomes, based on the population median of three.  Results: Pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity (59.4%) was significantly associated with elevated insulin (OR=3.91, CI: 1.36-11.24), interleukin-6 (OR=5.11, CI: 1.71-15.28), CRP (OR=5.34, CI: 1.58-18.01), LDL (OR=2.89, CI: 1.08-7.74) and total cholesterol (OR=3.05, CI: 1.14-8.15). Among participants, 85.1% had inappropriate GWG, and 73.2% retained some weight postpartum. GWG was associated only with elevated TNF-α, while PPWR was linked to elevated fasting serum glucose. The odds of having ≥3 metabolic abnormalities were significantly higher among women with elevated pre-pregnancy BMI (OR=3.44, CI: 1.36–8.68).  Conclusion: Among the three weight indicators examined, pre-pregnancy BMI showed the most consistent associations with postpartum metabolic biomarkers. These findings suggest that achieving a healthy weight before pregnancy may be an important target for reducing cardiometabolic risk.
SN  - 1745-5057
SN  - 1745-5065
ER  -