Obesity and pregnancy. An epidemiological and intervention study from a psychosocial perspective

Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain are both important health care issues contributing to increased perinatal complications in the short, medium and long term for both the mother and her infant.
The epidemiological and psychological characteristics of maternal obesity and related socio-demographic and obstetrical correlates, provide evidence for a tailored weight management strategy for obese women before, during and a?fter a pregnancy.

In this doctoral thesis, we identify socio-demographic, obstetrical and psychological characteristics of maternal obesity, we ? find evidence for bene?ficial outcomes of a lifestyle intervention programme in obese pregnant women, and we ?find support for longer term perinatal complications with postpartum weight retention between the ? first and second pregnancy.

Further development and implementation of preconception programmes based on a bio-psycho-social model that explicitly recognizes the individual needs and interacting lifestyle factors in obese women of reproductive age in order to prevent pre-pregnancy obesity, excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention is a challenge for the near future.