The study received funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, highlighting institutional support for exploring health disparities.

A recent study by University of Pittsburgh researchers has found that Black patients are two to three times more likely to retain or gain weight after childbirth compared to white patients, regardless of pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight patterns.

The study tracked 313 pregnant individuals from their second trimester through one year postpartum, employing Bluetooth-enabled scales for weekly weight monitoring and daily smartphone surveys to gather real-time data on stress and discrimination.

Using the ecological momentary assessment (EMA) method, the research captured daily stressors, including experiences of discrimination in various contexts such as employment and interactions with authorities.

Lead author Dara Méndez, Ph.D., stresses the need to consider environmental factors and lived experiences when addressing health outcomes in postpartum individuals.

These results suggest a significant link between discrimination and postpartum weight retention, as the findings persisted even when other pregnancy health factors were comparable.

The research, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, emphasizes the importance of addressing stressors related to discrimination in postpartum interventions.

It suggests that stress from experiences of racism and gender-based discrimination may contribute to the observed disparity in postpartum weight retention.

Postpartum weight retention is linked to increased cardiovascular risk and various negative health outcomes, underscoring the importance of addressing discrimination-related stress.

Findings indicated that Black participants retained an additional 0.3 pounds for every 10% increase in days experiencing racial discrimination and 0.4 pounds for gender discrimination, even when controlling for comparable pregnancy health factors.

Additional contributors to the study included experts from various institutions, showcasing a collaborative effort in this vital research area.