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News
Your pre-pregnancy weight matters more than your workout routine. A new study found that higher BMI before pregnancy significantly raises the risk of high blood pressure after delivery — and staying active during pregnancy doesn't change that. Nearly 1 in 3 participants had hypertensive blood pressure readings 4–8 weeks postpartum, with each BMI unit increase tied to a 6% higher risk.
Pre-pregnancy weight is a stronger predictor of postpartum hypertension than physical activity during pregnancy. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that higher prepregnancy BMI was significantly associated with elevated blood pressure in the weeks after delivery — regardless of how active participants were during pregnancy.
The study followed 388 pregnant individuals across three US centers, tracking activity levels each trimester via wearable monitors and measuring blood pressure 4–8 weeks postpartum. While women who stayed active early in pregnancy showed a lower risk of postpartum hypertension compared to consistently sedentary women, that benefit disappeared once researchers accounted for prepregnancy BMI.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Postpartum hypertension is a leading cause of maternal morbidity. These findings suggest that interventions targeting BMI before pregnancy — not just during — may be key to reducing cardiovascular risk for new mothers.
