title: Effects of a weight-gain restriction programme for obese pregnant women on sickness absence and pregnancy benefits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a weight-gain restriction programme for obese pregnant women on sickness absence days and pregnancy benefit days during pregnancy and postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, controlled intervention study. The Swedish Social Security Agency's records were utilized to compile sickness absence and pregnancy benefit information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antenatal care clinics in the south-east of Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-five obese pregnant women who participated in a weight restriction program with weekly structured motivational and behavioural talks combined with aqua-aerobics during pregnancy. A total of 193 obese pregnant women with no intervention served as controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sickness absence benefits and pregnancy benefits expressed as a percentage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average women in the intervention group had 76.68 total full days of sickness absence benefit compared with 53.09 days in the control group. Total full days of pregnancy benefits were 39.66% days and 41.41% for the intervention and control groups respectively. For the women who were on sick leave there were no differences between the groups in the amount of days taken.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the complexity of factors that have an influence on sickness absence leave, it is possible that programmes that do not address the influence of social aspects and attitudes towards sickness absence have limited effect.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Gunilla.Sydsjo@lio.se
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.forename: Wiktor Gustafsson
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Monfils
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Keyser
authors.forename: Ing-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Claesson
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Josefsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012943:Social Security / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden; D015430:Weight Gain; D014931:Women, Working