09/11/2025
A 2025 study from the University of Alberta (Cox et al., Midwifery Journal) explored the pressures women face to “bounce back” to their pre-pregnancy weight. 😮💨
Out of 114 women surveyed:
➡️ 93% felt at least some pressure to lose weight
➡️ 70% were concerned about their postpartum weight
➡️ 43% said returning to pre-pregnancy weight was very important
Pressure came from both internal (motivation, body image) and external (society, media, family) sources.
Researchers emphasised that these expectations can harm mental health and encourage unhealthy behaviours, and called for postpartum messaging that prioritises recovery, health, and support instead of rapid weight loss. 👏🏻🌿