A Lifestyle Intervention During Pregnancy and Its Effects on Child Weight 2.5 Years Later.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate if overweight and obesity in the offspring is reduced by a low-intensity antenatal primary care intervention with focus on diet and physical activity for pregnant women with obesity, comparing children to mothers receiving the intervention with children to mothers who did not. METHODS: This study is a follow-up of children 2.5 years of age after their mothers' participation in a non-randomised controlled intervention intending to limit gestational weight gain. All study participants received standard antenatal care. The intervention group received lifestyle support via motivational talks with midwife and support from dietician. Data on child weight were collected by medical records, letter and phone. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups 2.5 years after intervention (International Obesity Task Force ISO-BMI 25 (child BMI corresponding to adult BMI of 25): 20% vs. 21%; ISO-BMI 30: 4.6% vs. 1.3%). The mother's BMI at the beginning of pregnancy significantly influenced child BMI at 2.5 years (r = 0.13, p = 0.014, r2 = 0.017). For each unit of increase in maternal BMI at enrollment, the probability of child ISO-BMI ≥ 25 increased by 7.5% (p = 0.021) and of ≥ 30, by 12.9% (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The frequency of overweight and obesity of the children at 2.5 years of age was significantly correlated to the mother's BMI, but not correlated to the mothers' participation in the antenatal lifestyle intervention. Thus, it seems important to address obesity and lifestyle issues before and between pregnancies. Trial registration The study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03147079.

Cost effectiveness of a controlled lifestyle intervention for pregnant women with obesity.

BACKGROUND: The Mighty Mums antenatal lifestyle intervention is a person-centered behavioral intervention focusing on nutrition and physical activity for pregnant women with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30). The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs and clinical outcomes of adding the Mighty Mums intervention to standard antenatal care. METHODS: Participants in the intervention group (n = 434) received motivational talks with their midwife and a selection of physical and/or nutritional activities in addition to antenatal care. Control participants (n = 867) from adjacent geographic areas received standard antenatal care. Costs for staff, unit costs for specific activities, and registered costs for specialized antenatal care were analyzed for associations with gestational weight gain and self-reported health. Results are reported for the intention-to-treat (ITT) population and a per protocol (PP) population identified by participation in the intervention. Analyses included bootstrapped linear regressions adjusted for background characteristics that differed significantly between groups. RESULTS: The average costs were SEK 9727 higher (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6677 to 12,777) among participants in the intervention group than in the control ITT population and SEK 8655 (95% CI 4586 to 12,724) higher than in the PP population. The cost increase per 1 kg reduction in gestational weight gain was SEK 12,369 in the ITT population and SEK 7209 for the PP population. CONCLUSION: Participation in the Mighty Mums intervention was associated with higher costs, but also reduced gestational weight gain. The cost per kilogram reduction in gestational weight gain was low, particularly in the PP population. A future decision to implement this behavioral intervention in standard care should take into account society's willingness to pay per unit reduction in gestational weight gain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , Identifier: NCT03147079 .

Mighty Mums - a lifestyle intervention at primary care level reduces gestational weight gain in women with obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity (BMI ≥30) during pregnancy is becoming an increasing public health issue and is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) further increases the risks of adverse outcomes. However, lifestyle intervention can help pregnant women with obesity to limit their GWG. This study evaluated whether an antenatal lifestyle intervention programme for pregnant women with obesity, with emphasis on nutrition and physical activity, could influence GWG and maternal and perinatal outcomes. METHODS: The intervention was performed in a city in Sweden 2011-2013. The study population was women with BMI ≥30 in early pregnancy who received standard antenatal care and were followed until postpartum check-up. The intervention group (n = 459) was provided with additional support for a healthier lifestyle, including motivational talks with the midwife, food advice, prescriptions of physical activity, walking poles, pedometers, and dietician consultation. The control group was recruited from the same (n = 105) and from a nearby antenatal organisation (n = 790). RESULTS: In the per-protocol population, the intervention group had significantly lower GWG compared with the control group (8.9 ± 6.0 kg vs 11.2 ± 6.9 kg; p = 0.031). The women managed to achieve GWG < 7 kg to a greater extent (37.1% vs. 23.0%; p = 0.036) and also had a significantly lower weight retention at the postpartum check-up (- 0.3 ± 6.0 kg vs. 1.6 ± 6.5 kg; p = 0.019) compared to the first visit. The most commonly used components of the intervention, apart from the extra midwife time, were support from the dietician and retrieval of pedometers. Overall compliance with study procedures, actual numbers of visits with logbook activity, and dietician contact correlated significantly with GWG. There was no statistically significant difference in GWG (10.3 ± 6.1 kg vs. 11.2 ± 6.9 kg) between the intervention and control groups in the intention-to-treat population. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with obesity who follow a lifestyle intervention programme in primary health care can limit their weight gain during pregnancy and show less weight retention after pregnancy. This modest intervention can easily be implemented in a primary care setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03147079. May 10 2017, retrospectively registered.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle when pregnant and obese - an interview study three years after childbirth.

BACKGROUND: Obesity during pregnancy is increasing and is related to life-threatening and ill-health conditions in both mother and child. Initiating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle when pregnant with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m(2) can improve health and decrease risks during pregnancy and of long-term illness for the mother and the child. To minimise gestational weight gain women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) in early pregnancy were invited to a lifestyle intervention including advice and support on diet and physical activity in Gothenburg, Sweden. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) regarding minimising their gestational weight gain, and to assess how health professionals' care approaches are reflected in the women's narratives. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 women who had participated in a lifestyle intervention for women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) during pregnancy 3 years earlier. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed in full. Thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: The meaning of changing lifestyle for minimising weight gain and of the professional's care approaches is described in four themes: the child as the main motivation for making healthy changes; a need to be seen and supported on own terms to establish healthy routines; being able to manage healthy activities and own weight; and need for additional support to maintain a healthy lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: To support women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) to make healthy lifestyle changes and limit weight gain during pregnancy antenatal health care providers should 1) address women's weight in a non-judgmental way using BMI, and provide accurate and appropriate information about the benefits of limited gestational weight gain; 2) support the woman on her own terms in a collaborative relationship with the midwife; 3) work in partnership to give the woman the tools to self-manage healthy activities and 4) give continued personal support and monitoring to maintain healthy eating and regular physical activity habits after childbirth involving also the partner and family.

Mighty Mums - An antenatal health care intervention can reduce gestational weight gain in women with obesity.

BACKGROUND: overweight and obesity are growing public health problems and around 13% of women assigned to antenatal health care (AHC) in Sweden have obesity (Body Mass Index, BMI ≥30). The risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth increase with increasing BMI. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) among obese women further increases the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this pilot-study from AHC in Gothenburg, a co-ordinated project with standardised care, given by midwives and supported by dietitian and aiming at reducing weight gain in obese pregnant women, is evaluated. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effects of a behavioural intervention programme for women with BMI ≥30, with emphasis on nutrition and physical activity, with regards to GWG and effect on weight at the post partum check-up. METHODS: in the pilot study, the intervention group consisted of the first 50 enrolled obese pregnant women in a large life style project within the AHC in Gothenburg. The control group consisted of 50 obese pregnant women in the same city. The intervention included 60 minutes extra time with the midwife and also offered food discussion group, walking poles and pedometers. The intervention group was prescribed physical activity and could choose from food advice with different content. If needed, the woman was offered referral to the dietitian for a personal meeting. A network was formed with the surrounding community. Outcome measures were GWG, weight change at the postnatal check-up compared with when signing in to antenatal health care, and change in BMI during the same period. FINDINGS: women in the intervention group had a significantly lower GWG (8.6 ± 4.9 kg versus 12.5 ± 5.1 kg; p=0.001) and a significantly lower weight at the postnatal check up versus the first contact with AHC (-0.2 ± 5.7 kg versus +2.0 ± 4.5 kg; p=0.032), as well as a decrease in BMI (-0.04 ± 2.1 versus +0.77 ± 2.0; p=0.037). More women in the intervention than in the control group managed GWG <7 kg [18 (36%) versus 8 (16%); p=0.039]. CONCLUSION: obese pregnant women adhering to a standardised life style project in primary care using restricted resources can limit their weight gain during pregnancy, and show less weight retention after pregnancy compared to controls.