XXXX in weight and waist circumference associated with childbearing: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA).

@entity1 @entity1017 @entity28
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of childbearing with weight and waist circumference (WC) changes, we compared @entity1 with and without pregnancies or births during follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter, longitudinal observational study over 10 years. Comparison groups defined by the number of pregnancies and births during follow-up: P0 (0 pregnancies; nongravid), P1 (1+ miscarriages or abortions; 'short' pregnancies), B1 (1 birth), and B2 (2+ births). Mean changes in weight and WC for P1, B1 and B2 groups vs P0 were examined separately by race (black and white), baseline parity (nulliparous and parous) and baseline weight status (normal weight; BMI <25 kg/m(2) and overweight; BMI >/=25 kg/m(2)). SUBJECTS: A population-based sample of 2070 @entity1 aged 18-30 y at baseline (1053 black subjects and 1017 white subjects) from Birmingham, Alabama, Chicago, Illinois, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Oakland, California were examined five times between 1985-1986 and 1995-1996. MEASUREMENTS: Weight and WC measurements were obtained using standardized protocol at baseline and examinations at years 2, 5, 7 and 10. Sociodemographic, reproductive, and behavioral attributes were assessed at baseline and follow-up examinations. RESULTS: Gains in weight and WC associated with pregnancy and childbearing varied by race (P<0.001), baseline parity (P<0.05) and overweight status (P<0.001). Among overweight nulliparas, excess gains in weight (black subjects: 3-5 kg, white subjects: 5-6 kg) and WC (black subjects: 3-4 cm, white subjects: 5-6 cm) were associated with 'short' pregnancies and one or more birth(s) during follow-up compared to no pregnancies (P<0.01 and 0.001). Among normal weight nulliparas, excess gains in weight (about 1 kg) and WC (2-3 cm) were associated with follow-up birth(s) (P<0.05). Among @entity1 parous at baseline, no excess @entity1017 were found, but excess WC gains (2-4 cm) were associated with follow-up births. CONCLUSION: Substantial excess @entity1017 is associated with both short pregnancies and a first birth in @entity1 overweight prior to initiation of childbearing. Excess @entity1017 was not associated with higher order births. Increases in waist girth were cumulative with both first and higher order births among overweight as well as normal weight @entity1 . Interventions to prevent @entity28 should be targeted at @entity1 who are overweight prior to initiation of childbearing. The impact of excess WC gains associated with childbearing on @entity1 's future health risk should be evaluated further.
