TABLE 3.

Path analysis for the association between pregnancy-related weight changes, breastfeeding, and maternal weight 7 y after delivery¹

	Total effect		Indirect effect			Direct effect
	β	95% CI	β	95% CI	% of total	β	95% CI	% of total
Prepregnancy weight	0.87	0.84, 0.89	0.60	0.59, 0.61	69	0.27	0.24, 0.30	31
Total gestational weight gain	0.08	0.07, 0.09	0.07	0.06, 0.07	83	0.01	0.01, 0.02	17
Weight, 6 mo	0.46	0.43, 0.48	0.29	0.28, 0.30	63	0.17	0.14, 0.20	37
Weight, 18 mo	0.48	0.46, 0.51	—	—	—	0.48	0.46, 0.51	100
Breastfeeding duration	−0.01	−0.02, −0.004	−0.01	−0.01, −0.01	73	−0.003	−0.01, 0.003	27

¹All variables arez scores.n = 23,701. Values were adjusted for height, age, socio-occupational status, parity, gestational age, child birth weight, physical activity, dietary pattern, smoking during pregnancy, smoking after pregnancy, and time of interviews 3 and 4.