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. 2020 Oct;28(10):1984-1992.
doi: 10.1002/oby.22933.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure, Gestational Weight Gain, and Postpartum Weight Changes in Project Viva

Susanna D Mitro  1 , Sharon K Sagiv  2 , Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman  3 , Antonia M Calafat  4 , Abby F Fleisch  5   6 , Lindsay M Jaacks  7 , Paige L Williams  8   9 , Emily Oken  3 , Tamarra M James-Todd  9   10   11
Affiliations

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure, Gestational Weight Gain, and Postpartum Weight Changes in Project Viva

Susanna D Mitro et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the extent to which pregnancy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) concentrations were associated with gestational weight gain and postpartum weight changes.

Methods: This study was composed of 1,614 women recruited between 1999 and 2002 via the Project Viva cohort with pregnancy plasma concentrations of six PFAS, including perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and 2-(N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid. Gestational weight gain was defined as the difference between last pregnancy weight and prepregnancy weight, 1-year postpartum weight retention as the difference between 1-year postpartum weight and prepregnancy weight, and 3-year postpartum weight change as the difference between 3-year postpartum weight and prepregnancy weight.

Results: During pregnancy, women gained 0.37 kg (95% CI: 0.11-0.62) more weight per doubling of 2-(N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid. At 1 year post partum, women retained 0.55 kg (95% CI: 0.07-1.04) more weight per doubling of PFOA. At 3 years post partum, women gained 0.91 kg (95% CI: 0.25-1.56) more weight per doubling in PFOA. Findings were similar after adjustment for all PFAS. Other PFAS were not associated with weight changes. Postpartum associations were stronger among women with higher prepregnancy BMI. Models were adjusted for demographics.

Conclusions: Pregnancy PFAS were associated with greater gestational weight gain, weight retention, and weight gain years after pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC or NIH. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the CDC, the Public Health Service, or the US Department of Health and Human Services. The authors declare no competing financial interest and no conflict of interest of any kind.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Weight change (kg) per doubling in PFAS plasma concentrations during pregnancy (gestational weight gain) and 1- and 3-years postpartum. All estimates were adjusted for age, pre-pregnancy BMI, marital status, race/ethnicity, education, household income, smoking, and parity. One-year postpartum weight retention and 3-year postpartum weight change estimates were IP-weighted to account for differential loss to follow up. Plotted values listed in Table 3. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Weight change (kg) per doubling in PFAS plasma concentrations during pregnancy (gestational weight gain) and 1- and 3-years postpartum, stratified by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) category. Part A. shows PFOS and part B. shows PFOA. All estimates were adjusted for age, pre-pregnancy BMI, marital status, race/ethnicity, education, household income, smoking, and parity. One-year postpartum weight retention and 3-year postpartum weight change estimates were IP-weighted to account for differential loss to follow up.
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