Why didn’t the BAB program work in Hispanic women?
“The overall result showed that weight change from 6 weeks postpartum to 12 months revealed a slight gain in the control group of 1.3 pounds and a loss in the intervention group of 1.8 pounds, resulting in a between-group difference of 3.1 pounds [P = .09],” reported Dr. Nicklas. Adjustment for gestational weight gain and breastfeeding had no substantial effect.
When 12-month weight retention versus prepregnancy weight was assessed, the former was halved in participants in the BAB program.
The control group gained a mean of 10.1 pounds, and those in the intervention group gained a mean of 5.3 pounds, equivalent to a difference of 4.8 pounds (P = .04).
A prespecified analysis was conducted of 120 non-Hispanic women. At 12 months, weight retention, compared with prepregnancy weight showed an increase of 9 pounds in the control group versus 1.8 pounds in the intervention group (P = .01).
By comparison, in the small group of Hispanic women only, weight retention at 12 months compared to prepregnancy weight showed a 12.7-pound increase and a 13.3-pound increase in the control and intervention groups respectively, reported Dr. Nicklas.
Addressing the key question of why the BAB program was ineffective in Hispanic women, Dr. Nicklas said, “The literature tells us that low income Hispanic women are twice as likely to experience postpartum weight retention compared to white non-Hispanic women. But we also know that low-income Hispanic women generally engage less with interventions, and there is a higher acceptance of overweight among this ethnic group.”
The researchers hope to follow the women from their trial to determine who progresses to type 2 diabetes.
“Hispanic women are a high-risk population for gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and we plan to identify the best options to help Hispanic women with a history of gestational diabetes prevent type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Nicklas said in an interview.
Dr. Qian also remarked on the differences observed in the weight loss outcomes for non-Hispanic versus Hispanic women, noting that it highlights the importance of studying lifestyle interventions in diverse populations. “Environmental and cultural factors that may differ across different racial or ethnic groups could impact the effectiveness of such interventions.
Dr. Nicklas and Dr. Qian have reported no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.