title: Influences on the food choices and physical activity behaviours of overweight and obese pregnant women: A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to qualitatively explore influences identified by overweight/obese pregnant women on food choices and physical activity (PA) behaviours; to determine the impact of pregnancy on these factors; and to inform development of future lifestyle interventions during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional interview study.
  
  
  METHODS
  maternity hospital, Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  pregnant women (n=22), early pregnancy Body Mass Index > 25kg/m2MEASURES: barriers to and facilitators of healthy eating and PA in overweight/obese pregnancy. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  overweight/obese women perceived the following factors to influence their food choices and PA behaviours: personal (e.g. age, enjoyment, health, aesthetic appearance, and response to fatigue); social (e.g. social support, food modelling, social facilitation and weight bias) and environmental (e.g. food salience and the obesogenic environment). These factors affected PA and food choice trajectories differently according to socio-economic and socio-cultural context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  personal, social and environmental factors affect food choices and PA behaviours. Pregnancy is a powerful stimulus for positive changes in food choices particularly. This change is driven by desire for healthy pregnancy outcome, and is not intrinsically motivated. Healthy lifestyle interventions should aim to sustain positive changes beyond pregnancy through: empowerment, intrinsic motivation, family-centred approach, and behavioural goals.
authors.affiliation: UCD Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Orna A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: UCD Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.affiliation: Food Business and Development, University College Cork (UCC), Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aileen F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: McGloin
authors.affiliation: UCD Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kennelly
authors.affiliation: UCD Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Helena A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Scully
authors.affiliation: UCD Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: fionnuala.mcauliffe@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Fionnuala M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Food preference; Health behavior; Lifestyle change; Physical activity; Pregnancy; Qualitative research