Preventing postpartum weight retention following antenatal lifestyle intervention: One year postpartum follow up of the Healthy Lifestyles in Pregnancy (HeLP-her) randomised controlled trial.
Heidi Z LiJacqueline A BoyleCheryce L HarrisonPublished in: The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology (2021)
Antenatal lifestyle interventions optimise gestational weight gain, yet longer-term efficacy on postpartum weight retention is unclear. Overall, 228 pregnant women <15 weeks gestation were randomised to intervention (four behavioural self-management sessions) or control (generic health information). Median weight retention at 12 months postpartum was significantly reduced in the intervention with a between group difference of -2.3 (-2.8 (-5.9 to 0.35) vs -0.5 (-2.6 to 2.1) kg, respectively P < 0.05, (n = 75) ± 6.3 kg vs -0.5 ± 4.7 kg, respectively, P < 0.05) and associated increased self-weighing behaviours, compared with the control group (regular weighing: 68% vs 43%, P < 0.01). Results demonstrate the efficacy of a low-intensity, behavioural lifestyle intervention in limiting postpartum weight retention.
Keyphrases
- weight gain
- weight loss
- pregnant women
- body mass index
- physical activity
- randomized controlled trial
- birth weight
- health information
- metabolic syndrome
- preterm birth
- gestational age
- cardiovascular disease
- study protocol
- preterm infants
- social media
- pregnancy outcomes
- healthcare
- type diabetes
- double blind
- placebo controlled