This study is a review of nutritional and sociodemographic factors determining post-partum weight variation. A bibliographical search was carried out on the electronic databases Scientific Eletronic Library On-line (SciELO), Latin-American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) for titles published in the past decade (1997-2008). Thirteen articles, one technical note and two books considered relevant to the subject and published prior to 1997 are also cited in the review. The review prioritized studies involving randomized clinical trials and follow-up carried out among pregnant and post-partum women. The results show that the following are the main factors associated with post-partum weight variation: gestational weight gain above the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine, Pregestational Body Mass > 25 kg/m2, diet, duration and intensity of breast-feeding and socio-demographic factors, such as being black, having given birth only once, the age of the mother, low income and low schooling. Regular physical activity is recommended as a strategy for avoiding excessive weight gain and improving weight loss during post partum. In Brazil, there is no national strategy for preventing excessive weight gain and ensuring adequate weight loss during this period. During post-partum, most health service actions are restricted to ensuring that mothers breastfeed.
Obesity; Weight gain; Maternal nutrition; Pregnancy; Pospartum period
