Multiparity is associated with high motivation to change diet among overweight and obese postpartum women.
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy is associated with weight gain and obesity. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of parity and other factors on motivation to change diet to lose weight in a cohort of overweight and obese postpartum women.


METHODS
Active Mothers Postpartum is a randomized, controlled trial aimed at postpartum weight reduction. At baseline, we measured motivation to change diet to lose weight among 491 overweight/obese postpartum women. Logistic regression was used to model the effect of parity on motivation to change diet at baseline while adjusting for potential confounders including age, race, education, body mass index category, and breastfeeding status.


RESULTS
Approximately two thirds (68%) of participants were highly motivated to change their diet to lose weight. In the multivariable model, women with three or more children had 2.5 times the odds of high motivation compared with primigravid women, and women not breastfeeding had 1.6 times the odds of high motivation compared with any breastfeeding.


CONCLUSIONS
Although risk for obesity is incurred starting with a woman's first pregnancy, women in this study were more motivated to change their diet to lose weight after their third pregnancy. Further research is needed to understand how to best capitalize on the high motivation in women with several children as well as how to improve motivation for primigravid women and women who are breastfeeding.
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. lori.bastian@duke.edu
Lori A
LA
Bastian
Viranga C
VC
Pathiraja
Katrina
K
Krause
Rebecca J
RJ
Namenek Brouwer
Geeta K
GK
Swamy
Cheryl A
CA
Lovelady
Truls
T
Østbye
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins