Virtual interprofessional (VIP) education, a family medicine-occupational therapy-physiotherapy collaborative experience: the perspectives of patients, learners and providers on the opportunities and challenges.

This study examined the experiences of patients, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physiotherapy (PT) and Medicine learners, Providers, and Faculty, in implementing a Virtual Interprofessional (VIP) education initiative in two academic Family Medicine (FM) collaborative clinics. A qualitative descriptive study drew on a strength-based approach as part of the evaluation of the interfaculty VIP initiative. Participants involved in VIP care were conveniently sampled. Interviews were conducted with four patients, and focus groups were held with a total of 16 providers, preceptors and learners in OT, PT and FM. Data were analyzed using content analysis and managed using NVivo12. Four main categories emerged: 1) Challenges in implementing VIP care in FM; 2) Operational challenges, 3) Facilitators of VIP care in FM; and 4) Experiential learning outcomes and benefits of VIP care. This innovation supported knowledge and insights on interprofessional competencies acquired during practice, provided inclusive and comprehensive access to care for patients, and identified opportunities to enhance medical, OT and PT education in VIP care in FM. A collaborative approach with faculty from different disciplines (FM, School of Health Professions: OT and PT) can provide ongoing opportunities for VIP care for patients, and foster IP learning and acquisition of competencies for FM, OT and PT learners and providers.

Transforming the landscape of obesity education - The Canadian obesity education competencies.

Background: With ongoing gaps in obesity education delivery for health professions in Canada and around the world, a transformative shift is needed to address and mitigate weight bias and stigma, and foster evidence-based approaches to obesity assessment and care in the clinical setting. Obesity Canada has created evidence-based obesity competencies for medical education that can guide curriculum development, assessment and evaluation and be applied to health professionals' education programs in Canada and across the world. Methods: The Obesity Canada Education Action Team has seventeen members in health professions education and research along with students and patient experts. Through an iterative group consensus process using four guiding principles, key and enabling obesity competencies were created using the 2015 CanMEDS competency framework as its foundation. These principles included the representation of all CanMEDS Roles throughout the competencies, minimizing duplication with the original CanMEDS competencies, ensuring obesity focused content was informed by the 2020 Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines and the 2019 US Obesity Medication Education Collaborative Competencies, and emphasizing patient-focused language throughout. Results: A total of thirteen key competencies and thirty-seven enabling competencies make up the Canadian Obesity Education Competencies (COECs). Conclusion: The COECs embed evidence-based approaches to obesity care into one of the most widely used competency-based frameworks in the world, CanMEDS. Crucially, these competencies outline how to address and mitigate the damaging effects of weight bias and stigma in educational and clinical settings. Next steps include the creation of milestones and nested Entrustable Professional Activities, a national report card on obesity education for undergraduate medical education in Canada, and Free Open Access Medication Education content, including podcasts and infographics, for easier adoption into curriculum around the world and across the health professions spectrum.

A scoping review of obesity education interventions for current and prospective medical professionals in Canada.

Background: Obesity is a prevalent chronic disease in Canada. Individuals living with obesity frequently interact with medical professionals who must be prepared to provide evidence-based and person-centred care options. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize existing educational interventions on obesity in Canada for current and prospective medical professionals and to identify key future directions for practice and research. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. The search strategy was conducted using Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Eric, CBCA, Proquest Education, and Proquest Theses. The inclusion criteria included delivery of an educational intervention on obesity for current medical professionals, medical undergraduate trainees, or residents administered in Canada. Data were extracted from the included studies to thematically summarize the intervention content, and main outcomes assessed. Future directions for research and practice were identified. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The interventions ranged in terms of the mode of delivery, including interactive in-person workshops and seminars, online learning modules, webinars, and videos. The main outcomes assessed were attitudes towards patients living with obesity, self-efficacy for having sensitive obesity-related discussions, skills to assess obesity and provision of management options. All studies reported improvements in the outcomes. Future directions identified were the need to develop standardized obesity competencies for inclusion across medical education programs, further research on effective pedagogical approaches to integrating content into existing curricula and the need for broader awareness and assessment of the quality of obesity education resources. Conclusion: Although there have been few obesity-specific educational interventions for current and prospective medical professionals in Canada, existing evidence shows positive learning outcomes. These findings advocate for continued investment in the development of obesity medical training and educational interventions.

Patient-Perceived Patient-Centeredness During Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: Although patient-centeredness is a pinnacle in high-quality healthcare, there is a lack of research measuring patient-centeredness from the perspective of the patient in the context of perinatal care. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) measure patient-perceived patient-centeredness from pregnant people receiving prenatal care in Nova Scotia, and (2) explore potential correlates of patient-perceived patient-centeredness. METHODS: Participants completed an e-survey through REDCap software. Questions comprised of the Patient-Perceived Patient-Centeredness (Revised) (PPPC-R) questionnaire and demographic questions. The PPPC-R total score was calculated. Descriptive statistics were calculated to describe the sample, and inferential statistics were conducted. Linear regression analysis was used to determine how the independent variables predicted the PPPC-R total score. RESULTS: A total of 98 patients participated in the survey to completion. The mean PPPC-R total score was 62.2 (SD 10.5), equivalent to a score of 3.45/4. No significant correlates of the PPPC-R total score were identified; however, trends were observed related to age, parity, Body mass index, race/ethnicity, and education. CONCLUSIONS: Participants in our study rated their clinicians' patient-centeredness very highly. There was no significant difference in PPPC-R score among pregnant people based on the independent variables we collected.

Comparison of patients' perceptions of family physicians' patient-centeredness between virtual and in-person clinical encounters: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: A clinician's patient-centeredness is a core construct of quality healthcare and is associated with several positive patient outcomes. This study aimed to compare patient-perceived patient centeredness between in-person and virtual clinical encounters during the coronavirus pandemic. Materials and Methods: Participants completed an online anonymous questionnaire pertaining to a recent clinical encounter. Patients of an academic family medicine teaching clinic scheduled for either an in-person or a virtual clinical encounter were recruited by phone over a two-month period. Using the patient-centered clinical method as a conceptual framework, patient-perceived patient centeredness was measured by the Patient-Perceived Patient-Centeredness Questionnaire-Revised (PPPC-R), consisting of 18 items that reflect three factors (healthcare process, context and relationship, and roles). Results: The sample consisted of 72 participants. There was no difference in the PPPC-R scores between participants who received in-person and those who received virtual care. However, the mean ranks for the PPPC-R total score and for all three factors were higher for participants who saw a family physician compared to participants who saw a family medicine learner. Conclusion: Family physicians provided similar quality healthcare, measured through a patient-perceived patient-centeredness lens, via both virtual and in-person appointments. These results support sustaining virtual care when deemed appropriate by both patient and clinician.

The Prevalence of Pregnancy-Specific Perinatal Anxiety in Nova Scotia.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy-Specific Perinatal Anxiety (PSPA) is an understudied mental health condition of pregnancy that may affect maternal-fetal health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of PSPA among pregnant women in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, as well as the factors associated with it. METHODS: A sample of 90 pregnant women provided data on PSPA symptomology and demographic co-variables via a self-report online survey. The prevalence of PSPA in the sample was calculated and bivariate statistics and binomial logistic regression were conducted to assess the relationship between the presence of PSPA and the independent variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of PSPA in our sample was 17.8%. Smoking during pregnancy and a pre-pregnancy diagnosis of anxiety were significantly associated with meeting the criteria for PSPA (p = 0.008 and p = 0.013, respectively) and strongly predicted the presence of PSPA (odds ratio 8.54 and 3.44, respectively). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: A significant proportion of participants in our sample experienced symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of PSPA. This underscores the importance of further research on PSPA as a unique phenomenon in pregnant women, and the impact it may have on fetal and maternal health outcomes. A greater clinical emphasis should be placed on screening for and treating mental health conditions of pregnancy, including PSPA.

Anxiety in pregnancy affects maternal, fetal, and child health outcomes. A distinction ­ in terms of definition and diagnostic criteria ­ exists between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affecting pregnant women and pregnancy-specific perinatal anxiety (PSPA). The latter is a condition that has been identified as affecting pregnant women uniquely and with distinct clinical impact, but few studies have made effort to distinguish it from GAD when studying its prevalence and impact on health. This study examines the prevalence of PSPA exclusively and the variables associated with it to provide insight on the importance of this distinct clinical phenomena.

SmartMoms Canada: An evaluation of a mobile app intervention to support a healthy pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of cost-effective and readily available access to evidence-based information to manage healthy behaviours for pregnant individuals. Mobile health (mHealth) tools offer a cost-effective, interactive, personalized option that can be delivered anywhere at a time most convenient for the user. This study protocol was primarily developed to, i) assess the feasibility of the SmartMoms Canada intervention in supporting participants to achieve gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines. The secondary objectives are to, ii) assess user experience with the app, measured by adherence to the program via app software metrics and frequency of use, iii) determine the impact of SmartMoms Canada app usage on the adoption of healthful behaviours related to nutrition, physical activity and sleep habits, improvements in health-related quality of life, pregnancy-related complications, and symptoms of depression, and iv) investigate the potential extended effects of the app on postpartum health-related outcomes. METHODS: This is a feasibility trial. Pregnant individuals aged 18-40 years with pre-gravid body mass index between 18.5 and 39.9 kg/m2, carrying a singleton fetus, having Wi-Fi access, and at ≤20 weeks' gestation will be recruited. Eligible people will be followed from recruitment until 12 months postpartum. DISCUSSION: SmartMoms Canada is the first bilingual Canadian-centric app designed for pregnant people. This mHealth intervention, with its ability to supply frequent interactions, provides pregnancy- related health knowledge to users, potentially leading to an improvement in pregnancy-related outcomes and behaviours, and, ultimately a reduction in the present economic burden related to in-person interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN16254958. Registered 20 December 2019, http://www.isrctn.com/ ISRCTN16254958.

Primary care and primary healthcare in obesity management

Primary care clinicians should initiate patient-centred conversations with their patients about overweight or obesity. The 5As of Obesity ManagementTM (Ask-Assess-Advise-Agree-Assist) approach, starting with asking permission to discuss weight, is an appropriate format to use. Primary care clinicians should promote a holistic approach to weight and health focusing on health behaviours and addressing root causes of weight gain, with care to avoid stigmatizing and using overly simplistic narratives like "eat less and move more." Prescribing clinicians must be aware of obesogenic medications and consider alternatives for people living with overweight and obesity. When obesogenic medications must be used, physicians should discuss the risks with patients and institute monitoring for weight gain. Providers and patients need to be aware of the risks of weight cycling and adopt strategies that focus on sustained changes to maintain healthy habits over time.

Exploring weight bias internalization in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Recent research has shown that pregnant individuals experience weight stigma throughout gestation, including negative comments and judgement associated with gestational weight gain (GWG). Weight bias internalization (WBI) is often a result of exposure to weight stigma and is detrimental to biopsychological health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore WBI in pregnancy and compare scores based on maternal weight-related factors including pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), obesity diagnosis and excessive GWG. METHODS: Pregnant individuals in Canada and USA completed a modified version of the Adult Weight Bias Internalization Scale. Self-reported pre-pregnancy height and weight were collected to calculate and classify pre-pregnancy BMI. Current weight was also reported to calculate GWG, which was then classified as excessive or not based on Institute of Medicine (2009) guidelines. Participants indicated if they were diagnosed with obesity by a healthcare provider. Inferential analyses were performed comparing WBI scores according to pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive GWG, and obesity diagnosis. Significance was accepted as p < 0.05 and effect sizes accompanied all analyses. RESULT: 336 pregnant individuals completed the survey, with an average WBI score of 3.9 ± 1.2. WBI was higher among those who had a pre-pregnancy BMI of obese than normal weight (p = 0.04, η2 = 0.03), diagnosed with obesity than not diagnosed (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.3), and gained excessively versus not (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant individuals who have a higher BMI, obesity and gain excessively may experience WBI. Given that weight stigma frequently occurs in pregnancy, effective person-oriented strategies are needed to mitigate stigma and prevent and care for WBI.

Pregnant and Postpartum Women's Perceptions of Barriers to and Enablers of Physical Activity During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity throughout pregnancy has been shown to have health benefits for the pregnant person, including reductions in the risk of preeclampsia and gestational weight gain and improvements in blood pressure regulation. Despite the benefits, many pregnant women do not meet the guidelines for physical activity throughout pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to determine what influences women's activity levels during pregnancy. This systematic review of the qualitative literature aimed to determine pregnant and postpartum women's perceptions of barriers to and enablers of physical activity, specifically during pregnancy. METHODS: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Embase were searched systematically to identify qualitative studies investigating pregnant or postpartum women's perceptions of barriers to and enablers of physical activity during pregnancy. Included studies were limited to populations of pregnant or postpartum women, the majority of whom were aged 18 to 40 years, and studies published from 1985 onward. Data quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Studies Checklist. Data were extracted using NVivo software and subsequently mapped on the COM-B framework. RESULTS: Twenty-five qualitative studies were included in this systematic review. Sixteen themes were identified that mapped onto 6 components of the COM-B framework. Commonly reported barriers to physical activity during pregnancy included pregnancy symptoms, lack of knowledge of what constitutes safe activity, and the opinions of women's social circles. Commonly reported enablers of physical activity during pregnancy were social support and the experienced benefits, including physiologic, psychological, and social benefits. DISCUSSION: The results of this systematic review have clinical implications for perinatal care providers, as the overall benefits of physical activity during pregnancy have been well documented in previous studies. The authors recommend clinicians aim to explore pregnant women's perspectives on physical activity during pregnancy in order to be able to address their perceived barriers to and enablers of physical activity during pregnancy.

The relationship between skin-to-skin contact and rates of exclusive breastfeeding at four months among a group of mothers in Nova Scotia: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal source of nutrition for the first 6 months of life. Although skin-to-skin contact (SSC) has been shown to be associated with greater rates of exclusive breastfeeding, the results are heterogeneous. SSC involves placing a naked infant on its mother's bare chest immediately after birth. We examined the association between SSC immediately after birth and exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of healthy, term, singleton infants who were liveborn from 2008 to 2019 was constructed from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database. Our main outcome was exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months, available for a subset of the cohort through linkage to a primary care database (n=256). Our secondary outcome was exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge, available for the broader cohort (n=56,459). Odds ratios (OR) for the association between SSC and exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months were estimated from logistic regression models. RESULTS: The odds of breastfeeding exclusively at 4 months were 4.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89-9.25) times greater among those who had SSC than among those who did not. The odds of breastfeeding exclusively at hospital discharge were 3.81 (95% CI 3.64-3.99) times greater among those who had SSC than among those who did not. The association between SSC and exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge was heterogeneous by birth year (OR 4.35, CI 4.07-4.65 in 2008-2011; OR 2.81, CI 2.57-3.07 in 2012-2015; OR 1.89, CI 1.63-2.10 in 2016-2019). CONCLUSION: Skin-to-skin contact appears to be associated with greater odds of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge and 4 months postpartum. Early SSC should continue to be supported for breastfeeding promotion.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: L'allaitement exclusif est la source de nutrition idéale pour les six premiers mois de la vie. Bien qu'il ait été démontré que le contact peau à peau (SSC) est associé à des taux plus élevés d'allaitement exclusif, les résultats sont hétérogènes. La SSC consiste à placer un enfant nu sur la poitrine nue de sa mère immédiatement après la naissance. Nous avons examiné l'association entre la SSC immédiatement après la naissance et l'allaitement exclusif à quatre mois. MéTHODES: Une cohorte rétrospective de nourrissons seuls à terme en bonne santé de 2008 à 2019 a été construite à partir de la Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database. Notre critère de jugement principal était l'allaitement exclusif à quatre mois, disponible pour un sous-ensemble de la cohorte grâce à un couplage à une base de données de soins primaires (n = 256). Notre critère de jugement secondaire était l'allaitement exclusif à la sortie de l'hôpital, disponible pour la cohorte plus large (n = 56 459). Les rapports de cotes (OR) pour l'association entre la SSC et l'allaitement exclusif à quatre mois ont été estimés à partir de modèles de régression logistique. RéSULTATS: Les chances d'allaiter exclusivement à quatre mois étaient 4,14 (intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95 % 1,89-9,25) fois plus élevées chez celles qui avaient le SSC que chez celles qui n'en avaient pas. Les chances d'allaiter exclusivement à la sortie de l'hôpital étaient 3,81 (IC à 95 % 3,64 à 3,99) fois plus élevées chez celles qui avaient la SSC que chez celles qui n'en avaient pas. L'association entre la CSS et l'allaitement exclusif à la sortie de l'hôpital était hétérogène selon l'année de naissance (OR 4,35, IC 4,07-4,65 en 2008-2011; OR 2,81, IC 2,57-3,07 en 2012-2015; et OR 1,89, IC 1,63-2,10 en 2016-2019). CONCLUSION: Le contact peau à peau semble être associé à une plus grande probabilité d'allaitement exclusif à la sortie de l'hôpital et à quatre mois après l'accouchement. La SSC tôt avec les nouveau-nés doit continuer à être soutenue en tant qu'aspect des pratiques de promotion de l'allaitement.

Assessing the frequency with which primary care providers address sleep of infants and young children.

Sleep problems during early development are common and associated with negative health outcomes. Earlier recognition of poor sleep health permits earlier intervention and improved outcomes. This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify the frequency with which primary care providers assessed sleep health when completing the Rourke Baby Record for infants and young children during routine well-baby visits from 2002 to 2019. Using 1180 electronic medical records from an academic family medicine teaching clinic, we identified the frequency with which primary care providers assessed sleep health at three time intervals in child development: 1 week to 1 month; 2 months to 6 months; and 9 months to 12-13 months. Sleep variables were night waking, healthy sleep habits, and safe sleep. The frequency of having any aspect of sleep addressed was 85.4%, 90.2% and 66.7% at the three respective time intervals. There were no differences in the frequency with which sleep was assessed based on birthweight or sex. Children born during 2002-2015 were approximately half as likely to be assessed for sleep compared with those born during 2016-2019 at the second and third time intervals. In the first and second time intervals, children who were not exclusively breastfed had their sleep assessed significantly less than children who were exclusively breastfed. To our knowledge this is the first study to explore the area of sleep discussions and breastfeeding status in primary care during routine well-baby visits. These results are clinically relevant for clinicians and parents, due to the known associations between sleep issues and sudden infant death syndrome, childhood injuries, and emotional dysregulation.

Does prepregnancy weight change have an effect on subsequent pregnancy health outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

International guidelines recommend women with an overweight or obese body mass index (BMI) aim to reduce their body weight prior to conception to minimize the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Recent systematic reviews have demonstrated that interpregnancy weight gain increases women's risk of developing adverse pregnancy outcomes in their subsequent pregnancy. Interpregnancy weight change studies exclude nulliparous women. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following MOOSE guidelines and summarizes the evidence of the impact of preconception and interpregnancy weight change on perinatal outcomes for women regardless of parity. Sixty one studies met the inclusion criteria for this review and reported 34 different outcomes. We identified a significantly increased risk of gestational diabetes (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.66, 2.14, I2  = 87.8%), hypertensive disorders (OR 1.46 95% CI 1.12, 1.91, I2  = 94.9%), preeclampsia (OR 1.92 95% CI 1.55, 2.37, I2  = 93.6%), and large-for-gestational-age (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.25, 1.49, I2  = 92.2%) with preconception and interpregnancy weight gain. Interpregnancy weight loss only was significantly associated with increased risk for small-for-gestational-age (OR 1.29 95% CI 1.11, 1.50, I2  = 89.9%) and preterm birth (OR 1.06 95% CI 1.00, 1.13, I2  = 22.4%). Our findings illustrate the need for effective preconception and interpregnancy weight management support to improve pregnancy outcomes in subsequent pregnancies.

Women's Views on Advice About Weight Gain in Pregnancy: A Grounded Theory Study.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnant women prioritize the health of their pregnancy, and weight gain contributes to the pregnancy's health. Women encounter different messages about gestational weight gain from various sources that can be confusing. This study aimed to increase our understanding of the processes influencing how women experience the gestational weight gain advice they receive. METHODS: Grounded theory methodology was chosen. Women receiving prenatal care in a primary care setting were invited to participate in one-on-one interviews. RESULTS: All fifteen participants had high educational attainment, fourteen were Caucasian, and five had an elevated pre-pregnancy body mass index. Six interconnected themes emerged from the data: (1) striving to have a healthy pregnancy; (2) experiencing influences; (3) feeling worried; (4) Managing ambiguity; (5) trusting a source of information; and (6) feeling relief. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Physicians are perceived by pregnant women to be a source of trusted information about gestational weight gain and are therefore in a strategic position to help women achieve healthy weight gain during pregnancy.

Patient-centred innovation for multimorbidity care: a mixed-methods, randomised trial and qualitative study of the patients' experience.

BACKGROUND: Patient-centred interventions to help patients with multimorbidity have had mixed results. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of a provider-created, patient-centred, multi-provider case conference with follow-up, and understand under what circumstances it worked, and did not work. DESIGN AND SETTING: Mixed-methods design with a pragmatic randomised trial and qualitative study, involving nine urban primary care sites in Ontario, Canada. METHOD: Patients aged 18-80 years with ≥3 chronic conditions were referred to the Telemedicine IMPACT Plus intervention; a nurse and patient planned a multi-provider case conference during which a care plan could be created. The patients were randomised into an intervention or control group. Two subgroup analyses and a fidelity assessment were conducted, with the primary outcomes at 4 months being self-management and self-efficacy. Secondary outcomes were mental and physical health status, quality of life, and health behaviours. A thematic analysis explored the patients' experiences of the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients in the intervention group and 77 in the control group showed no differences, except that the intervention improved mental health status in the subgroup with an annual income of ≥C$50 000 (ß-coefficient 11.003, P = 0.006). More providers and follow-up hours were associated with poorer outcomes. Five themes were identified in the qualitative study: valuing the team, patients feeling supported, receiving a follow-up plan, being offered new and helpful additions to their treatment regimen, and experiencing positive outcomes. CONCLUSION: Overall, the intervention showed improvements only for patients who had an annual income of ≥C$50 000, implying a need to address the costs of intervention components not covered by existing health policies. Findings suggest a need to optimise team composition by revising the number and type of providers according to patient preferences and to enhance the hours of nurse follow-up to better support the patient in carrying out the case conference's recommendations.

The Relationship Between Pre-Pregnancy Attempts to Lose Weight and Gestational Weight Gain: An Exploratory Primary Care Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to explore the association between weight cycling in the 6 months prior to pregnancy and gestational weight gain concordance with the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines for weight gain in pregnancy. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. Participants were women aged 18 years or older with a singleton pregnancy who had a prenatal appointment between April 1 and August 31, 2019. Eligible women completed a questionnaire that assessed their pre-pregnancy attempts to lose weight, measured with a modified version of the Weight Cycling subscale within the Revised Restraint Scale. After delivery, participants' last recorded gestational weight before delivery, and corresponding gestational ages were obtained from prenatal records. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-five pregnant women consented to participate in the study (a 95.6% response rate). Of them, 5 were excluded; therefore, 190 participants were included in the analysis. One-third of participants had attempted to lose weight in the 6 months before pregnancy. Logistic regression showed that for every one-unit increase in Weight Cycling score, the odds of excess gestational weight gain increased by a factor of 1.32. CONCLUSION: Women's pre-conceptual efforts to enter pregnancy at a lower BMI should be approached in a manner that avoids pre-pregnancy weight cycling.