Healthful dietary patterns and long-term weight change among women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus

D. K. Tobias, C. Zhang, J. Chavarro, S. Olsen, W. Bao, A. A. Bjerregaard, T. T. Fung, J. E. Manson, F. B. Hu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background/Objective: Diet represents a key strategy for the prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes among women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), although effective dietary patterns to prevent weight gain in the long term are largely unknown. We sought to evaluate whether improvement in overall diet quality is associated with less long-term weight gain among high-risk women with prior GDM.
Subjects/Methods: Women with a history of GDM (N=3397) were followed from 1991 to 2011, or until diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or other chronic disease. Usual diet was assessed via food frequency questionnaire every 4 years from which we calculated the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (aHEI-2010), Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern scores. Weight, lifestyle and health-related outcomes were self-reported every 2 years. We estimated the change in dietary score with change in body weight using linear regression models adjusting for age, baseline body mass index (BMI), baseline and simultaneous change in physical activity and smoking status and other risk factors.
Results: Women were followed up to 20 years, gaining an average 1.9 kg (s.d.=7.0) per 4-year period. Women in the highest quintile (Q5) of diet change (most improvement in quality) gained significantly less weight per 4-year period than the lowest quintile (Q1; decrease in quality), independent of other risk factors (4-year weight change, aHEI-2010: Q5=1.30 kg vs Q1=3.27 kg; AMED: Q5=0.94 kg vs Q1=2.56 kg, DASH: Q5=0.64 kg vs Q1=2.75 kg). Significant effect modification by BMI (p-interactions Conclusions: Increased diet quality was associated with less weight gain, independent of other lifestyle factors. Post-partum recommendations on diet quality may provide one strategy to prevent long-term weight gain in this high-risk group.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1748-1753
Number of pages6
JournalInternational journal of obesity (2005)
Volume40
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Aug 2016

Keywords

  • gestational diabetes
  • lifestyle modification
  • nutrition
  • nutritionial supplements
  • risk factors
  • weight management

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