Behaviours of overweight and obese women during pregnancy who achieve and exceed recommended gestational weight gain.
BACKGROUND
Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with increased risk of pregnancy-related complications, postpartum weight retention, and long-term obesity. Little is known about the behavioural habits of pregnant women who achieve and exceed recommended GWG.


METHOD
In 2011, qualitative interviews were conducted in Pennsylvania with postpartum women who were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy to ascertain their behaviours and attitudes regarding dietary habits, physical activity, and self-monitoring during pregnancy. Thematic analysis identified the habits of women who achieved and exceeded recommended GWG guidelines.


RESULTS
Of the 29 women interviewed, 11 had appropriate GWG and 18 had excessive GWG. Women achieving appropriate GWG reported modest increases in caloric intake if at all, with deliberate meal and snack planning, while women with excessive GWG described "eating-for-two." Nearly all women with excessive GWG reported exercising less during pregnancy (or remaining sedentary), while women with appropriate GWG largely increased or maintained pre-pregnancy physical activity levels. About half of the sample reported self-monitoring weight gain during pregnancy, but women achieving recommended GWG tied their weight monitoring with GWG goals consistent with recommended guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Women who achieved appropriate GWG reported deliberate dietary habits and physical activity planning, with appropriate GWG goals during pregnancy. Women exceeding recommended GWG described "eating-for-two," were sedentary, and either had no goals for GWG or intended to gain more weight than recommended.
['Chuang|Cynthia H|CH|', 'Stengel|Michael R|MR|', 'Hwang|Sandra W|SW|', 'Velott|Diana|D|', 'Kjerulff|Kristen H|KH|', 'Kraschnewski|Jennifer L|JL|']
D000328:Adult D001294:Attitude to Health D015992:Body Mass Index D004435:Eating D005247:Feeding Behavior D005260:Female D006040:Goals D017408:Guidelines as Topic D015438:Health Behavior D006801:Humans D009043:Motor Activity D050177:Overweight D010414:Pennsylvania D011247:Pregnancy D011295:Prenatal Care D036301:Qualitative Research D015430:Weight Gain
Obesity Pregnancy Gestational weight gain Physical activity Nutrition