Preventing Obesity in Military Communities: Mother-Baby

Obesity is increasingly common among reproductive aged women and women presenting for their first pregnancy. Women with overweight and obesity are more likely to exceed recommended weight gain during pregnancy and retain excess weight after delivery. Women with pre-pregnancy obesity, women who exceed recommended weight gain during pregnancy, and children who experience rapid and excess growth during the first year of life are all at risk for subsequent obesity. Additionally, maternal obesity is a significant risk factor for pregnancy complications (i.e., hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes) and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including excess fetal weight at birth. The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of active patient engagement with counseling for positive gain to mitigate excess weight gain in women during pregnancy and postpartum, and in the first six months of life. Pregnant women eligible to receive care in the Military Health System (MHS) will be randomized to receive either the positive-gain counseling (PGC) prevention program or usual care (UC). PGC is designed to empower women to examine food choices and activity patterns during pregnancy to help them adhere to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended weight gain standards. PGC patients will be paired with counselors who follow their pregnancy from start to finish, as well as providing neonatal and infant support in a continuous fashion as part of team-based care. Women in the usual care (UC) group will receive prenatal care in accordance with the VA/DoD Guideline for the Management of Pregnancy. Both groups will receive routine well-child care in accordance with established guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Routine well-child care appointments (UC) take place at 2-3 days after birth, 2 weeks of life, 2 months of life, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months. Participants' weight status, food intake, and mood will be assessed once during each trimester and at 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months postpartum. Individuals enrolled in the PGC group will receive specific counseling once during each trimester and at 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months postpartum. Well-child sessions will focus on positive-gain-based cognitive strategies to promote breastfeeding, recognition of satiety cues and other healthy food choices. It is hypothesized that participants who receive the positive-gains counseling program will show significantly less weight gain in both pregnancy and infancy relative to those randomized to usual care.