Implementing an Evidence-Based Outpatient Program to Reduce Postpartum Weight Retention

In 2009, the Institute of Medicine published the report Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines as a call to action for health care providers. The report suggests that at 6 months postpartum, approximately 50% of women still retained an excess weight of 10 pounds or more and that 25% retained 20 pounds or more. Long-term consequences of postpartum weight retention and subsequent obesity include postpartum depression, successive pregnancy complications, and chronic health conditions. This article describes Motivated Moms, an evidence-based postpartum weight management program in an outpatient clinic. Motivated Moms uses a multilevel approach including diet, social support, and self-monitoring, with the goal of reducing postpartum weight retention.