Healthy Weight Among Women of Reproductive Age

MO-11-0013 NUPA

Weight and health is affected by factors across one's life time and space, for example, by living and working environments. A variety of policy and community-based interventions are needed to support healthy weight for women before, during and after pregnancy.

• Interventions must focus on strategies to promote healthful living by concentrating primarily on nutrition and physical activity and investing in women's health before a woman becomes pregnant.
• Healthier women before pregnancy = healthier mothers.
• Healthier mothers = healthier babies, who develop into healthier children

MyPlate’s Daily Food Plan for Moms: Weight Gain During Pregnancy

The total amount of weight a woman should gain during pregnancy depends on her weight when she becomes pregnant. The advice is different for those who were overweight or underweight before becoming pregnant. Learn how much weight a woman should probably gain and tips for obtaining that weight. Click here for more information

Promoting Healthy Weight Among Women of Reproductive Age Report, 2006

This paper outlines why the maintenance of healthy weight among women of childbearing age was chosen as the first focus area for the AMCHP/ CityMatCH Women’s Health Partnership, and describes two frameworks that provide the theoretical underpinning for our efforts. The paper outlines factors that influence healthy weight, demographics of weight among women of reproductive age, and the impact of overweight and obesity on perinatal outcomes. Finally, the paper outlines additional resources and lists possible community-based prevention strategies for assisting women of reproductive age to maintain a healthy weight. Click Here to See Report (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Promoting a Healthy Weight in Women of Reproductive Age: Experiences & Lessons Learned From Eight State/Local Health Department Teams

This report that was produced that highlights the different interventions which were implemented in the above mentioned AMCHP/CityMatch partnership. Sonoma and Los Angeles Counties were part of this effort. Click Here to See Report (PDF, 4.3 MB)

Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) report

Maternal mortality is associated to obesity and excessive prenatal weight gain in this report. The report represents seven years of work by State Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) staff, California Maternal Quality of Care Collaborative (CMQCC), PAMR Committee, and Public Health Institute (PHI). Click Here to See Report (PDF, 1.1 MB)

Position of the American Dietetic Association and American Society for Nutrition: Obesity, Reproduction, and Pregnancy Outcomes

This position statement focuses on clinical approaches.
Note: Healthy women’s weight can be addressed up-stream as part of a comprehensive obesity prevention effort in the outer rings of the socio-ecological model e.g., not focusing on the individual, but addressing the environment). Click Here to See Report (PDF)

Examples of activities supporting women’s weight reported by local health jurisdictions in 2011

Healthy Weight for mothers and children is influenced by many factors and several MCAH programs work to support healthy weight and prevent obesity. Local health jurisdiction MCAH programs track prenatal weight gain, provide health education and outreach, and advocate for environmental changes to support optimum nutrition and physical activity. Click Here to See Report (PDF)

Related Activities through the Maternal and Child Health Program at California Department of Public Health include:

• The California Diabetes and Pregnancy Program (CDAPP) Includes guidelines for care on nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding and weight gain.
• The Preconception Health Program works to optimize a woman's health before she gets pregnant, has created an innovative website, everywomancalifornia.org This site has information for women and for health care providers to support healthy minds, bodies, and environment.
• The Nutrition and Physical Activity (NUPA) Initiative promotes the development of healthcare policies, training and guidelines that support healthy eating and physical activity for all programs, health care providers, schools, childcare centers, and employers. NUPA uses healthy eating and physical activity epidemiological information that is obtained from multiple sources to design, implement, and evaluate initiatives that are effective and reach individuals with the most need.
• The Adolescent Family Life Program (AFLP) provides nutrition, physical activity and breastfeeding guidelines There is also an English and Spanish cookbook  for teens that include physical activity ideas.
• The Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) provides Step to Take Program Guidelines (PDF) that include prenatal weight gain and breastfeeding guidelines for use by CPSP staff members.

A Few Additional Resources:

• March of Dimes, Maternal Obesity and Pregnancy: Weight Matters, Medical Perspectives on Prematurity. Office of the Medical Director. 4/6/05 (PDF)This paper discusses the impact of obesity during pregnancy.
• The March of Dimes report  Nutrition Today Matters Tomorrow This report focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles, prevention and targeting the preconceptional female, as a way to achieve significant improvements in health.
• The Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Council, Improving the Nutritional Well-being of Women, Children and Families. This paper makes the case that no one entity is currently charged with monitoring and improving the nutritional well-being of the nation's families.  In the paper, the MCH Nutrition Council issues a clear call to action, along with specific recommendations, for state and territorial health agencies to strengthen their public health nutrition services.