Women's attitudes towards a pre-conception healthy lifestyle programme

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health Nutrition
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Nearly half of US women start pregnancy overweight or obese.
• Over half of overweight pregnant women gain excessive weight during gestation.
• Pre-conception weight loss may improve pregnancy outcomes more than interventions during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess women's attitudes towards pre-conception diet and weight management interventions.
• To gauge interest in participating in lifestyle change programs before pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous survey conducted in obstetrics and primary care waiting rooms.
• 126 women surveyed, focusing on attitudes towards pre-conception lifestyle change programs.
• Data collected on demographics, weight status, and attitudes towards pre-conception health.

Main Results:

• 80% of respondents were pregnant or planning pregnancy within 5 years.
• 48% of respondents were overweight or obese.
• 96% considered a healthy pre-pregnancy weight important; 77% favored a pre-conception lifestyle program.
• Overweight/obese women showed high likelihood to engage in program components (phone appointments, website use, record keeping).

Conclusions:

• Women in this population recognize the importance of pre-conception healthy lifestyle and weight loss.
• There is significant enthusiasm for programs supporting pre-conception health goals.
• Interventions targeting pre-conception weight management are likely to be well-received.