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A research team found that the number of diagnoses of postpartum depression has doubled in the last decade
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Rates of postpartum depression among American women have more than doubled in the past decade, according to a new analysis.
While about 1 in 10 new mothers (9.4%) suffered from postpartum depression in 2010, by 2021 that figure had risen to nearly 1 in 5 (19%), a team of researchers from Kaiser Permanente Southern California reports.
Reasons for growth
The main factors that may explain this sharp increase are:
- Improving detection and diagnosis: Increasing awareness of postpartum depression among women and their physicians.
- Rise in Obesity Among Pregnant Women: Obesity has long been recognized as a risk factor for postpartum depression.
"The incidence of postpartum depression is high and rising," said a team led by Dr. Darios Getahun, a researcher at Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, California. The study's findings were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
What is postpartum depression?
According to the researchers, it is "a depressive disorder that occurs within 12 months after childbirth."
Main symptoms:
- Sadness and anxiety.
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities.
- Difficulty bonding with baby.
- Refusal of breastfeeding.
- Development of concomitant diseases.
Severe consequences: In severe cases, depression can lead to suicide or infanticide.
Results of the analysis
The study included more than 442,000 pregnancies in California from 2010 to 2021. The average age of the women was 31, and the study group was diverse.
Key findings:
- Diagnosed cases of postpartum depression doubled during the period.
- Much of this increase may be due to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which recommend screening for postpartum depression at pediatric visits (at ages 1-2, 4, and 6 months).
The role of obesity
According to the study, the link between obesity and depression is clear:
- Normal weight: 17% of postpartum depression cases.
- Overweight: 19.8%.
- Mild obesity: 21.2%.
- Severe obesity: 24.2%.
The rise in postpartum depression has coincided with a "parallel increase" in obesity among pregnant women in the United States over the past 10 years.
Significance of the study
The data obtained can serve as an important guideline for the development of new public health initiatives aimed at improving maternal health during the perinatal period and increasing the well-being of mothers and children.