Effectiveness of Nutrition Counseling on Gestational Weight Gain Among Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women in Lebanon

Effectiveness of Nutrition Counseling on Gestational Weight Gain Among Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women in Lebanon

A high percentage of women are either overweight or obese before pregnancy and many women are exceeding the gestational weight gain recommendations when pregnant. Excessive gestational weight gain increases the risk of maternal and fetal complications. To help with this, women need to be advised about the appropriate weight gain recommendation according to their pre-pregnancy body weight. One way to do this is by receiving dietary and lifestyle advices during prenatal visits. This study will contribute to knowledge that will inform dietary guidelines and public policy on how to manage gestational weight gain and thus improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

If you choose to participate in the suggested study, you will be seen by a dietitian during the first trimester for an in-depth counseling session and provide you with individualized nutrition counseling regarding your physical activity, dietary, and weight gain goals. You will then be asked to self-monitor your diet, weight, and physical activity. Study staff will instruct you on how to keep weekly paper logs of weight, activity, and diet that you will share with your dietitian weekly or biweekly by telephone. In order to determine the total gestational weight gain and to determine the impact of nutrition intervention on the health of your baby, data collectors will review your medical record to obtain your weight at delivery, your infants' birthweight, and method of delivery.

Apart from the 30 minutes of your time taken during the nutrition counseling session and your dietary and activity commitment according to the recommendations, we can expect no risks or inconveniences for you. Your participation in the study is voluntary and you may withdraw your participation from the study at any time. Your personal health information will be treated as confidential and all persons involved in the study are committed to respecting your privacy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• In their first trimester of pregnancy

• With a pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 25 to 35 kg/m², classifying them as overweight or obese.

• Women were required to be attending regular prenatal care visits at randomly selected gynecology clinics

  • The ability and willingness to meet with a licensed dietitian for individualized counseling.
  • Commitment to follow the recommended nutrition and physical activity guidelines throughout the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications to exercise
• Medical conditions such as uncontrolled hypertension, insulin-dependent diabetes, uncontrolled thyroid disease, multiple gestation, persistent bleeding in the first trimester
• History of recurrent miscarriages.