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To examine the patterns of fat mass gain in pregnancy and fat loss in the early postpartum period relative to women’s pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and by adherence to Institute of Medicine’s gestational weight gain (GWG) recommendations.

Prospective cohort study with three to four study visits.

This study is a part of the prospective longitudinal birth cohort, ‘The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition Study’ (APrON) that recruited pregnant women from the cities of Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta.

1820 pregnant women were recruited and followed through their pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum.

Body weight and skinfold thicknesses were measured during pregnancy and early postpartum in women. Body density was calculated from sum of skinfold thickness (biceps, triceps, subscapula and suprailiac), and total fat mass accretion during …