Women's Experience of Weight Management During and After Pregnancy
Author Information
Author(s): Nolan Rachel, Gallagher Alison M., Hill Alyson J.
Primary Institution: Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University
Hypothesis
What factors influence weight change during and post-pregnancy?
Conclusion
Mothers report receiving insufficient information around weight management, with barriers identified at each level of the ecological model.
Supporting Evidence
- 81.5% of women reported not receiving enough information around weight management during pregnancy.
- 86.1% of women felt they did not receive adequate information post-pregnancy.
- Barriers to managing weight were identified at intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, and institutional levels.
Takeaway
Moms feel they don't get enough help with managing their weight during and after pregnancy, and they want more support and information.
Methodology
A mixed methods approach using online questionnaires and focus groups to gather data from women aged 18-45 who had uncomplicated pregnancies within the last 3 years.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data on weight and BMI.
Limitations
The study had a lack of diversity in the sample, primarily consisting of white women, which may not represent the broader population.
Participant Demographics
Majority were white (91.7%), non-smokers (96.3%), with 37% aged between 31 and 35, and most held a postgraduate degree (56.5%).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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