OBJECTIVE: To investigate the issues that confront women when addressing overweight and obesity before conception. DESIGN: Questionnaire-based study of 412 unselected women in early pregnancy. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 255 women who attended a public, antenatal "first visit" clinic at a major urban obstetric hospital in Brisbane and 157 women who presented to a private obstetrician in Brisbane for a routine ultrasound scan during a 6-week period in 2006 were surveyed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preconception health activities, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), self-reported weight category, attempts to lose weight before pregnancy, and weight loss advice received before pregnancy. RESULTS: Folic acid supplementation was reported by 56% of participants, and 53% attended a preconception health check. Of women who provided details of height and prepregnancy weight, 30% were overweight or obese before pregnancy. However, 23 of 65 women with a BMI in the overweight range categorised themselves as normal weight (36%), and only 8 of 50 women with a BMI in the obese range categorised themselves as obese (16%). As BMI increased, more women reported trying to lose weight (P < 0.001) and reported receiving advice regarding weight loss (P < 0.001). Prepregnancy weight loss was reported by 52 of 115 overweight and obese women (45%). CONCLUSIONS: Potential barriers to addressing overweight and obesity before pregnancy include poor uptake of routine prepregnancy health activities, inaccurate self-categorisation of weight, unsuccessful weight loss attempts and inadequate advice regarding prepregnancy weight loss.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the issues that confront women when addressing overweight and obesity before conception. DESIGN: Questionnaire-based study of 412 unselected women in early pregnancy. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 255 women who attended a public, antenatal "first visit" clinic at a major urban obstetric hospital in Brisbane and 157 women who presented to a private obstetrician in Brisbane for a routine ultrasound scan during a 6-week period in 2006 were surveyed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preconception health activities, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), self-reported weight category, attempts to lose weight before pregnancy, and weight loss advice received before pregnancy. RESULTS:Folic acid supplementation was reported by 56% of participants, and 53% attended a preconception health check. Of women who provided details of height and prepregnancy weight, 30% were overweight or obese before pregnancy. However, 23 of 65 women with a BMI in the overweight range categorised themselves as normal weight (36%), and only 8 of 50 women with a BMI in the obese range categorised themselves as obese (16%). As BMI increased, more women reported trying to lose weight (P < 0.001) and reported receiving advice regarding weight loss (P < 0.001). Prepregnancy weight loss was reported by 52 of 115 overweight and obesewomen (45%). CONCLUSIONS: Potential barriers to addressing overweight and obesity before pregnancy include poor uptake of routine prepregnancy health activities, inaccurate self-categorisation of weight, unsuccessful weight loss attempts and inadequate advice regarding prepregnancy weight loss.
Authors: Eden R Cardozo; Tanaka J Dune; Lisa M Neff; Maureen E Brocks; Geraldine E Ekpo; Randall B Barnes; Erica E Marsh Journal: J Community Health Date: 2013-04
Authors: Marloes Dekker Nitert; Katie F Foxcroft; Karin Lust; Narelle Fagermo; Debbie A Lawlor; Michael O'Callaghan; H David McIntyre; Leonie K Callaway Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2011-11-21 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: Elisabet Forsum; Anne Lise Brantsæter; Anna-Sigrid Olafsdottir; Sjurdur F Olsen; Inga Thorsdottir Journal: Food Nutr Res Date: 2013-03-13 Impact factor: 3.894
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