Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger, Norway.
Reprod Health. 2024 Jan 30;21(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12978-024-01742-z.
Pre-pregnancy obesity increases the risk of perinatal complications. Post-pregnancy is a time of preparation for the next pregnancy and lifestyle advice in antenatal care and postpartum follow-up is therefore recommended. However, behavioral changes are difficult to achieve, and a better understanding of pregnant women's perspectives and experiences of pre-pregnancy weight development is crucial.
We used a qualitative design and conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 women in Norway with pre-pregnancy obesity 3-12 months postpartum. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Four themes addressing women's experiences and understanding of their weight development were generated: (1) Unmet essential needs, (2) Genetic predisposition for obesity, challenging life course transitions and turning points, (3) Under a critical eye: an ever-present negative bodily awareness, and (4) Wrestling with food. Parents' inability to meet children's essential needs caused weight gain through an unbalanced diet, increased stress, and emotional eating patterns. Body criticism and a feeling of not belonging led to negative body awareness that influenced behavioral patterns and relationships. Participants reporting having had a good childhood more often described their weight development as a result of genetic predisposition, challenging life course transitions and turning points, such as illness and injuries. Nevertheless, these participants also described how eating patterns were influenced by stress and negative emotions.
Healthcare providers should pay attention to the insider perspectives of pre-pregnancy weight development. An open and shared understanding of the root causes of these women's weight development can form a basis for more successful lifestyle guidance.
孕前肥胖会增加围产期并发症的风险。产后是为下一次怀孕做准备的时期，因此建议在产前保健和产后随访中提供生活方式建议。然而，行为改变是困难的，更好地了解孕妇对孕前体重发展的看法和经验至关重要。
我们采用定性设计，对挪威 14 名产后 3-12 个月的孕前肥胖妇女进行了半结构式访谈。使用主题分析对数据进行分析。
生成了四个主题，涉及女性对体重发展的经验和理解：（1）未满足的基本需求，（2）肥胖的遗传易感性，挑战生活过程的转变和转折点，（3）在批判的眼光下：始终存在的消极身体意识，以及（4）与食物作斗争。父母无法满足孩子的基本需求，导致饮食不平衡、压力增加和情绪化进食，从而导致体重增加。身体批评和归属感的缺失导致消极的身体意识，影响行为模式和人际关系。报告有良好童年经历的参与者更经常将体重发展描述为遗传易感性、挑战生活过程的转变和转折点的结果，如疾病和受伤。然而，这些参与者也描述了饮食模式如何受到压力和负面情绪的影响。
医疗保健提供者应关注孕前体重发展的内部视角。对这些女性体重发展的根本原因有一个开放和共同的理解，可以为更成功的生活方式指导奠定基础。
