A Review of the Clinician’s Role in Women’s Weight Management and Implications for Women’s Health and Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Importance: Ten years have passed since the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its recommendations for gestational weight gain (GWG), based on a woman's prepregnancy body mass index. Despite this, the majority of women do not gain the appropriate gestational weight; most women gain too much weight, and a small but substantial number gain too little.Objectives: We review the literature concerning GWG, the opinions and practices of clinicians in managing their patients' weight, and how these practices are perceived by patients. We also review several randomized control trials that investigate the efficacy of clinical intervention in managing GWG.Evidence Acquisition: A literature review search was conducted with no limitations on the number of years searched.Results: The number of clinicians who are aware of and use the IOM recommendations has increased, but the prevalence of inappropriate GWG has not decreased. Clinicians report feeling less than confident in their ability to have an impact on their patients' weight gain, and there are discrepancies between what clinicians and patients report regarding counseling. Many randomized control trials demonstrate a beneficial impact of clinical intervention, highlighting the importance of collaboration and technology to provide educational information and support throughout a pregnancy.Conclusions: Pregnancy provides an opportunity for clinicians to have open and direct conversations with their patients about their weight. Providing clinicians with the tools, skillset, and confidence to assist in the management of GWG is essential to the health of women and their children, and warrants further investigation.Target Audience: Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians Learning Objectives: After completing this review, clinicians should be better able to identify risk factors of inappropriate GWG and associated complications; summarize current literature on how both clinicians and patients perceive GWG; explain how to assess appropriate GWG on an individual basis based on IOM recommendations; and describe methods to help women achieve appropriate GWG.

Adult obesity treatment and prevention: A trans‐agency commentary on the research landscape, gaps, and future opportunities

“…Specifically, two research networks conduct research on obesity prevention and control and lifestyle interventions among children and adolescents with ASD/DD 87,88. The third research network, Pregnancy-Related Care Research Network (PRCRN), researches a broad array of topics relevant to the health and well-being of pregnant women and their infants.89 Related to obesity, the PRCRN focuses on whether guidelines affect physicians' confidence in impacting maternal overweight, obesity, and/or gestational weight gain 90,91. In addition, a multi-institution Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority Serving Institutions (MH-RC-MSI) program was launched recently,92,95,96 which was composed of and to support minority serving institutions to conduct research addressing maternal health disparities and find community-based solutions.…”