Abstract
Purpose: To obtain basic data for the prevention of obesity in postpartum women, we investigated the transition of autonomic nervous activity in the postpartum period, which is considered related to postpartum body composition and energy metabolism, and the relationship between sympathetc and parasympathetic activity.
Methods: Forty-nine subjects with a lean or standard body mass index (BMI) before they became pregnant able to cooperate three times within the first year postpartum were recruited and their body weight (BW), body fat percentage (BF%), and ANS activity were measured.
Results: BW and BF% were significantly reduced with the passage of postpartum time. At 9 to 12 months postpartum, the rate of "pre-normal weight obesity" was 34.7% and that of "normal weight obesity" was 16.3%. Among the 35 cases who were of standard BMI before pregnancy, 28.6% did not return to their prepregnant weight. ANS activity did not change during the postpartum period. A decrease in BW or BF% per day and the sympathetic nervous system index showed a negative correlation. In contrast, these were positively correlated with the parasympathetic nervous system index.
Conclusions: BW and BF% were reduced with the passage of postpartum time. ANS activity did not change during the postpartum period. Reduction in BW and BF% is associated with ANS activity.
