Adjusting DBI-2016 to dietary balance index for Chinese maternal women and assessing the association between maternal dietary quality and postpartum weight retention: A longitudinal study

Diet is believed to play a major role in maternal recovery, postpartum weight retention (PPWR) is one of the challenges for Chinese women. However, the association between puerperal women’s diet and PPWR remained unclear and complicated in China. The study assessed the dietary quality of puerperal women using adjusted Chinese Dietary Balance Index-16 (DBI-16) and explored its associations with PPWR. Participants were enrolled in the Mother-Infant Cohort Study of China. Dietary intake and demographic characteristics were obtained by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a self-designed questionnaire at 0–3 months postpartum. PPWR was calculated by the weight difference at 0-3months and 6-8months postpartum minus pre-pregnancy weight. Dietary quality was assessed using adjusted DBI-16. 316 puerperal women were enrolled. According to adjusted DBI-16, 84.8% of participants had an insufficient dietary intake (vegetables 84.8%, fruits 91.8%, dairy 87.3%, soybean 61.4% and aquatic foods 79.4%, respectively), 67.1% had an excessive intake (cereals 60%, meat 57.3% and eggs 64.9%, respectively), 98.4% had an imbalanced diet consumption. PPWR at 0–3, and 6–8 months were 6.0 (±5.1) kg and 5.2 (±7.7) kg, and the percentage of PPWR (≥5kg) were 63.0% and 52.8% respectively. Multivariable linear regression showed the intake of fish and shrimp at 0–3 months postpartum was negatively associated with PPWR at 6–8 months (β = -0.114, SE = 0.279, p < 0.05). The diet quality of Chinese puerperal women was unreasonable and imbalanced. Fish intake tended to be a favorable factor for postpartum weight loss.