Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Postpartum Participants in the Standard Care vs Intervention Groups.
| Characteristic | Total (N = 370) |
Standard Care Group (n = 196)a |
Intervention Group (n = 174)a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean (SD), y | 28.1 (5.4) | 28.6 (5.5) | 27.5 (5.2) |
| Hispanic/Latino, No. (%) | |||
| Yes | 302 (81.6) | 156 (79.6) | 146 (83.9) |
| No | 68 (18.3) | 40 (20.4) | 28 (16.1) |
| Marital status, No. (%)b | |||
| Married or with significant other | 285 (77.9) | 145 (74.7) | 140 (81.4) |
| Divorced | 19 (5.2) | 13 (6.7) | 6 (3.5) |
| Widowed or never married | 62 (16.9) | 36 (18.6) | 26 (15.1) |
| Education, No. (%)b | |||
| Grade school or junior high | 80 (21.7) | 43 (22.1) | 37 (21.3) |
| High school | 136 (36.9) | 71 (36.4) | 65 (37.4) |
| Some college and college | 153 (41.5) | 81 (41.5) | 72 (41.4) |
| Employment, No. (%)b | |||
| Unemployed | 273 (74.0) | 150 (76.8) | 123 (70.7) |
| Homemaker | 169 | 94 | 75 |
| Student | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| Maternity leave | 41 | 23 | 18 |
| Other | 43 | 21 | 22 |
| Employed | 96 (26.0) | 45 (23.1) | 51 (29.3) |
| Clerical | 30 | 14 | 16 |
| Trade and factory | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| Professional | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| Other | 32 | 13 | 19 |
| Annual household income, No. (%), $b | |||
| <10 000 | 69 (18.8) | 40 (20.6) | 29 (16.7) |
| 10 000-19 999 | 114 (31.0) | 61 (31.4) | 53 (30.5) |
| 20 000-29 999 | 107 (29.1) | 51 (26.3) | 56 (32.2) |
| ≥30 000 | 78 (21.2) | 42 (21.6) | 36 (20.7) |
| Childbearing history, No. (%) | |||
| Primiparous | 95 (25.7) | 51 (26.0) | 44 (25.3) |
| Multiparousc | 275 (74.3) | 145 (74.0) | 130 (74.7) |
| Months post partum, mean (SD) | 5.2 (3.2) | 5.0 (3.2) | 5.6 (3.1) |
| Currently breastfeeding, No. (%) | 231 (62.4) | 110 (63.2) | 121 (61.7) |
| Waist circumference, mean (SD), cm | 98.4 (11.5) | 98.0 (11.6) | 98.9 (11.4) |
| Weight, mean (SD), kg | 79.9 (5.6) | 79.8 (16.3) | 80.1 (14.8) |
| BMI, mean (SD) | 31.7 (5.1) | 31.6 (5.2) | 31.9 (5.0) |
| At study entry, No. (%) | |||
| 22-24.9d | 13 (3.5) | 7 (3.6) | 6 (3.4) |
| 25.0-29.9 | 146 (39.6) | 82 (42.1) | 64 (36.8) |
| ≥30 | 210 (56.9) | 106 (54.4) | 104 (59.8) |
| Prepregnancy, No. (%)b,e | |||
| ≤24.9 | 97 (26.5) | 52 (26.9) | 45 (25.9) |
| 25.0-29.9 | 141 (38.4) | 74 (38.3) | 67 (38.5) |
| ≥30 | 129 (35.1) | 67 (34.7) | 62 (35.6) |
| PPWR, mean (SD) kg | 7.8 (7.4) | 7.4 (7.3) | 8.2 (7.4) |
| ≤5 kg above prepregnancy weight, No, (%)b | 117 (32.0) | 50 (25.9) | 67 (38.5) |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared); PPWR; postpartum weight retention (calculated as the difference between self-reported prepregnancy weight and weight measured at study entry).
The standard care group received the standard Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC program). The intervention group received the standard WIC program plus a 12-month primarily internet-based weight loss program adapted from prior programs.
Some participants declined to answer the questions regarding marital status (standard care, 2; intervention, 2), education (standard care, 2), employment (standard care, 1), income (standard care, 2), and preconception weight (standard care, 3).
Seven participants reported having twins during their most recent pregnancy.
For inclusion, participants could have a BMI of 25 or more or could have a BMI from 22 to 24.9 but had to exceed their prepregnancy weight by 4.5 kg or more.
BMI status before pregnancy was based on self-reported preconception weight and measured height at study entry.