Exploring postpartum weight management techniques to decrease proportion of overweight and obese women

Obesity is a major public health problem in the United States. A subgroup of obese individuals with particular health concerns is women of childbearing age. Although there is an extensive amount of research on excessive gestational weight gain and its adverse health effects, there is limited research about weight gain and management during the postpartum period. While weight management interventions have targeted women within the prenatal stage of pregnancy, few have focused on the postpartum period. A focus on the postpartum period is therefore important because 1) a unique opportunity exists during this period to intervene to improve the health of women, and 2) many childbearing women will become pregnant again and so intervening during this period may improve the outcomes of future pregnancies. \ud This thesis therefore provides data to inform the development of more effective weight management interventions targeting women during the postpartum period. Specifically, this thesis provides preliminary data about overweight and obese postpartum women and their preferences and views surrounding weight management, data that can be used to strengthen the development and implementation of interventions. A sample of postpartum women was assessed to describe their attitudes about and preferences with respect to interventions. Results found that women were most interested in individualized, phone-based interventions that focus on dietary intake and ways to reduce postpartum weight gain. Women were also asked about potential barriers impacting their ability to complete weight management interventions. Socio-demographic factors were assessed to determine whether these factors were potential predictors of interest. Multigravida and primigravida were the only statistically significant predictors of interest, with women undergoing their second pregnancy being most interested in participating in weight management programs. \ud Few weight intervention studies have looked into the psychosocial context of women participating in weight management. The findings of this thesis suggest approaches to reduce weight gain postpartum capturing preferences and potential barriers to treatment. \ud \u