Poster Presentation ANZOS-Breakthrough Discoveries Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

Behavioural interventions to treat and prevent overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age: A scoping review (#339)

Melinda Hutchesson 1 , Mette de Jonge Mulock Houwer 2 , Megan Rollo 1 , Jenna Hollis 1 3 , Siew Lim 4 , Lisa Vincze 5 , Lisa Moran 4
  1. School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  2. Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
  3. Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, , Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  5. School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Women of childbearing age are at high risk of weight gain with overweight and obesity rates as much as 33.3% and 58.1% for 18-24-year-old and 35-44-year-old Australian women, respectively. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to examine the extent and range of research undertaken to evaluate behavioural interventions to treat and prevent overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age.

Eight electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCT) or systematic reviews of RCTs published in English until 31st January 2018. Eligible studies included women of childbearing age (aged 15-44 years), evaluated interventions with a primary aim of promoting behaviour change related to diet, physical activity or sedentary behaviour to achieve weight gain prevention, weight loss or weight maintenance, and reported weight-related outcomes. Studies were assessed for inclusion and data extracted by two independent reviewers.

Of the 8543 articles identified, 88 met the inclusion criteria (85 RCTs and 3 systematic reviews). Preliminary findings suggest, the largest number of studies were conducted in the USA (n=16), and Australia (n=14). Studies were published from 1998 to 2018, with most published in 2014 (n=14). Most studies were pregnancy-related (n=79), recruiting women during the antenatal (n=61) or postpartum period (n= 18). The interventions primarily focused on preventing excessive gestational weight gain (n=47), postpartum weight loss (n=18) or a combination of the two (n=14). Of the remaining nine studies, five focused on weight gain prevention and four weight loss in women who were not pregnant or postpartum.

This scoping review identified a large and increasing volume of research undertaken to address the treatment and prevention of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age over time. It highlights, however, that little research is being undertaken with women pre-conception, to help them reach and maintain a healthy weight prior to pregnancy.