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. 2024 Aug;124(8):964-994.e1.
doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.011. Epub 2024 Apr 20.

Factors Influencing Weight Management in Pregnant Women with Overweight or Obesity: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Elahe Banafshe  1 , Nahid Javadifar  2 , Zahra Abbaspoor  3 , Majid Karandish  4 , Saeed Ghanbari  5
Affiliations

Factors Influencing Weight Management in Pregnant Women with Overweight or Obesity: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Elahe Banafshe et al. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity have multiple negative consequences for the health of both the mother and the child. Interventions to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy have had varying success, and the proportion of pregnant women who exceed national guidelines for weight gain continues to increase.

Objective: To investigate the influence of factors on weight management among pregnant women with overweight or obesity.

Methods: This meta-synthesis of qualitative studies involved searching databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science. The databases were searched on October 4, 2022, and the search was updated on April 21, 2023. The screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts was conducted utilizing Covidence software. The quality assessment of the articles was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. The Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research statement was used to enhance transparency in reporting. A meta-aggregation approach was used to guide the data extraction and synthesis.

Results: A total of 46 studies with appropriate Critical Appraisal Skills Programme scores were included for qualitative synthesis. Findings were extracted and integrated into 4 themes: psychological factors (personally driven negative emotions and society-driven negative emotions), social factors (societal attitudes and beliefs and social support resources), factors related to education and counseling (information provision and communication), and factors associated with effective care (provided care components and the method of providing effective care).

Conclusions: To improve weight management during pregnancy, health care providers should provide tailored and individualized recommendations that take into consideration the factors influencing these women.

Keywords: Obesity; Pregnancy; Psychosocial factors; Qualitative research; Weight management.

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