Subhan FB, et al. - Via a prospective cohort study with three to four study visits of 1,820 pregnant who were followed through their pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum, experts explored the patterns of fat mass gain in pregnancy and fat loss in the early postpartum period in regards to women’s pre-pregnancy BMI and by adherence to Institute of Medicine’s gestational weight gain (GWG) recommendations. Most women (64%) had a standard pre-pregnancy BMI, and overall 49% of women surpassed the GWG recommendations. In comparison with normal-weight women, obese women earned significantly less total fat mass, had a lower fat mass loss and had lower postpartum fat retention. Women with excessive GWG vs women who met the GWG recommendations gained greater total fat mass and had higher postpartum fat mass retention. Total GWG was positively associated with total fat gain and total fat retention. Hence, regardless of pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive GWG was an important risk factor for higher fat mass accretion during pregnancy and higher postpartum fat retention.