Promoting Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum

Promoting Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum Among Overweight/Obese Women

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a lifestyle intervention on gestational weight gain, postpartum weight loss, and other secondary outcomes relative to a usual care control group.

Our study will address the following specific aims: (1) examine the impact of a lifestyle intervention on gestational weight gain and postpartum weight loss in overweight and obese women, (2) examine the impact of the intervention on physical activity (PA), dietary intake, and quality of life (QOL), (3) examine race differences in total gestational weight gain, PA, dietary intake, and QOL; and (4) examine the impact of the intervention on offspring adiposity.

Inclusion Criteria:

• White or African American woman
• Overweight or obese (prepregnancy BMI: 25-45 kg/m2)
• ≤ 16 wks gestation at screening
• Age 18-44 years
• No plan to move out of the greater Columbia area in next 18 months
• Regular and consistent telephone access
• Availability for telephone calls
• Willing to accept random assignment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Fetal anomaly
• Taking insulin for diabetes
• Uncontrolled or untreated thyroid disease
• Mental health or substance-abuse hospitalization in last 6 months
• Multiple gestation
• Persistent bleeding in the first trimester
• History of more than 3 miscarriages
• History of an eating disorder or current eating disorder
• History of an incompetent cervix
• Physical disability that prevents exercise
• Told by health care provider not to exercise
• Any other medical conditions that might be a contraindication to exercise or dietary change