Abstract

PIP: Changes in maternal weight, triceps, and subscapular skinfold thickness during 2 consecutive pregnancies (n=125) and lactation periods (n=225) are described for a sample of rural Taiwanese women studied during a longitudinal nutrition intervention study. Mean pregnancy weight gain was 7.63 kg, with a maximum weight velocity of 1.46 kg/month in 2nd trimester. Skinfold thicknesses increased slightly early in pregnancy, then declined during the last trimester, reaching a minimum just after birth. After an initial increase from birth to 1 postpartum month, mean weight and skinfold thicknesses declined throughout lactation. Closer examination revealed that 1/3 of the mothers gained weight and a greater proportion gained skinfold thickness during 12-15 months of lactation. Mothers who lost weight tended to have been fatter at the beginning of lactation compared with those who gained weight. Individual weight change patterns of the 1st lactation period studied (L1) were replicated by 87% of the women during the 2nd (L2). Due in part to a secular trend, mothers weighed more and tended to have thicker skinfolds during L2 compared with L1. Birth intervals (mean=758 days) were related to anthropometric maternal variables: fatter mothers had longer birth intervals. Anthropometric data interpreted in the context of energy balance demonstrate that the Taiwanese population, although it could be considered malnourished based on caloric intake estimates by and comparison with US weight for height standards, shows no evidence of longterm energy dificits. Rather, as judged by moderate weight and skinfold increases with time and by reproductive success, the population is well adapted.