Vast majority of women weigh more a year after giving birth: RESEARCH

The women of Hollywood may make it look easy, but losing weight after a baby isn't so simple for everyone else. And now, science confirms it.

Researchers from the University of Chicago followed 774 women with an average body mass index in the "overweight" range. They found that more than 75% of them weighed more one year after giving birth than they did pre-pregnancy, and that many of them soon ventured into the obese category.

"This unfortunately showed that pregnancy itself is leading to obesity or (being) overweight for a substantial number of women," Dr. Loraine Endres, an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago, told HealthDay.

 

But because the women started out overweight, they may have had difficulty in general shedding weight post-baby, the Obstetrics and Gynecology study acknowledged.

For women who had a normal weight before pregnancy, almost half still had 10 extra pounds on them a year later and almost a quarter had 20 or more. Extra weight ups your risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancers.

Surprisingly, being in shape before a pregnancy can help you lose weight once the baby comes, the authors said. When you are pregnant, eat right and stay active to boost your odds of slimming down post-baby.

"The more you gain, the harder it is to ever lose that weight," Endres continued. "From the moment women conceive, as health care providers we need to start talking with them about appropriate weight gain and remaining active."

Breastfeeding can be a big help to women looking to lose baby weight, since it can burn 300-500 calories a day.

The Institute of Medicine says that a woman with a normal BMI of 18.5-24.9 should gain 25-35 pounds while pregnant. Overweight women in the 25-29.9 BMI range should gain 15-25 pounds, while obese women with a BMI over 30 should gain 11-20 pounds.

Comedian Tracy Morgan Critical but Responsive after weekend Crash

Comedian Tracy Morgan remained in critical condition early Monday following a weekend car wreck, but the actor's publicist said he's showing signs of improvement.

 

"He has been more responsive, which is an incredibly encouraging sign," publicist Lewis Kay said Sunday.

The wreck took place about 1 a.m. Saturday when the limo van Morgan was in was hit by a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike, police said.

The collision killed Morgan's fellow passenger, comedian James McNair -- who performed under the name Jimmy Mack.

Comedians Ardie Fuqua and Harris Stanton were among the injured, as was a man named Jeffrey Millea.

Morgan's injuries

Morgan suffered several injuries, including broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken leg and a broken femur.

Kay, the publicist, said Morgan underwent surgery on his leg Sunday.

"We expect him to remain in the hospital for several weeks," he said.

The truck driver charged in the crash turned himself in to police, and was released on a $50,000 bail Saturday night.

The driver, 35-year-old Kevin Roper, is charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said.

He was a driver for Walmart.

"This is a tragedy, and we are profoundly sorry that one of our trucks was involved," Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., said in a statement.

"The facts are continuing to unfold. If it's determined that our truck caused the accident, Walmart will take full responsibility."

Chain-reaction crash

The wreck occurred about 1 a.m. ET Saturday on the turnpike in Mercer County, said Sgt. Gregory Williams of New Jersey State Police.

"The driver of the tractor-trailer failed to observe slow-moving traffic ahead," Williams said. "At the last minute, he swerved to try and avoid the Mercedes limo bus but struck it from behind, forcing the limo to rotate and overturn."

Four other vehicles were involved in the crash, the prosecutor's office said, but no one in those vehicles was injured.

Williams said he does not believe alcohol played a role in the crash, but that is under investigation.

Kefee Has Limited Chances Of Survival- Medical Doctor Says

  Nigerian Branama crooner, Kefee is really in a critical condition and from information gathered, the six months pregnant singer has been diagnosed as having pre-eclampsia – pregnancy induced high blood pressure. This was noticed after She had embarked on a 14-hour flight to Chicago for an event but went into coma, forcing the plane to land in Los Angeles so that she could be urgently attended to.
This is what a medical doctor in Nigeria, Dr Adeyefa, shedding more light on Kefee’s condition, says

"Kefee is in a precarious situation because of the six months pregnancy. If the foetus had been nine months, the doctors would have removed the baby and saved the mother and child.

"As it is now, not only will the baby not survive because the carrier is in coma, Kefee may also lose her life from further complications. The chances of the mother surviving is narrow, while the kid has a narrower chance. I urge Nigerians to pray for her, that's all she needs.