Efficacious lifestyle interventions for appropriate gestational weight gain in women with overweight or obesity set in the health care system: a scoping review

Factors influencing participation and regular attendance in a program combining physical activity and nutritional advice for overweight and obese pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Educational programs incorporating physical activity (PA) sessions and nutritional workshops have demonstrated potential benefits for overweight and obese pregnant women. However, participation in such programs remains challenging. This prospective study aimed to investigate the factors influencing participation and regular attendance, while examining changes in health behaviors, along with obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

METHODS

Pregnant women with at 12-22 weeks' gestation a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 were invited to join an educational program combining three nutritional workshops conducted in groups and 12 weekly PA sessions. They self-selected their participation into the program. Regardless of program uptake and regularity of attendance, the women's PA levels, eating behaviors, and affectivity were assessed using validated questionnaires at 20-24 weeks, 32-34 weeks, and postpartum. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the factors influencing participation.

RESULTS

Of the 187 women enrolled in the study, 61.5% agreed to participate in the program. Of these, only 45% attended six or more sessions (regardless of the nature of sessions, i.e. nutritional workshops and/or PA sessions), while only 8.7% attended six or more PA sessions. Participation was associated with higher rates of problematic eating behaviors and lower PA levels at baseline, while regular attendance was mainly associated with higher household incomes. No significant difference was observed between participants and non-participants in terms of changes in eating behaviors, PA levels, or affectivity. However, at the 32-34 week visit, regular participants displayed a higher change in positive affectivity, but unexpectedly also in cognitive restraint, than non-regular participants, a difference that did not persist at postpartum.

CONCLUSION

The educational program combining nutrition and PA was shown to be safe. Women facing challenges related to health behavior displayed a willingness to sign up for the program, but tailored interventions addressing their individual challenges are needed to improve attendance. Accordingly, four recommendations are proposed for the design of future interventions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov; Identifier: NCT02701426; date of first registration: 08/03/2016.

Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Its Association with Maternal and Newborn Outcomes

Background: Pregnancy is a crucial stage in a woman’s life and can be affected by epigenetic and environmental factors. Diet also plays a key role in gestation. This study aimed to evaluate how a greater or lesser adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) influences specific parameters of mother and newborn. Methods: After delivery, the women participating in the study answered a questionnaire: demographic information; anthropometric data (pre-pregnancy weight, height, and gestational weight gain); dietary habits information (adherence to MD before and during pregnancy, using the validated Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), quality of protein intake); pregnancy information (onset of complications, cesarean/vaginal delivery, gestational age at birth, birth weight, birth length); and clinical practitioner for personalized dietary patterns during pregnancy. Results: A total of 501 respondents have been included in the study, and 135 were excluded for complications. Women who followed the advice of clinical nutritionists showed better adherence to MD (p = 0.02), and the baby’s birth weight was higher (p = 0.02). Significant differences in gestational weight gain (p < 0.01) between groups with dissimilar diet adherence were demonstrated. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate a significant relationship between adherence to MD and birthweight.