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IJCBNM - Volume 11 - Issue 3 - Pages 190-200
IJCBNM - Volume 11 - Issue 3 - Pages 190-200
Corresponding Author:
Shahzad Pashaeypoor, PhD; Department of Community Health and Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing
and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Postal code: 14197-33171, Tehran, Iran
Tel: +98 21 61054208; Fax: +98 21 66421685; Email: Sh-Pashaeipour@tums.ac.ir
Abstract
Background: Getting overweight after pregnancy is a common phenomenon and getting back to
pre-pregnancy weight in the postpartum period is a major concern for mothers. This study aimed to
explain the challenges in performing post-pregnancy weight-management behaviors in nulliparous
women being overweight and obese due to pregnancy.
Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted with the conventional qualitative content
analysis method based on Granheim and Landman’s approach from October to December in 2021. In
this study, participants were 15 women who referred to comprehensive health service centers in Tehran,
Iran; they were purposefully selected according to the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through
individual, in-depth, and semi-structured face-to-face interviews and simultaneously analyzed using
the MAXQ Data version 10 software.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 25.93±3.21 years. Data analysis resulted in three main
categories: 1) failure to adhere to calorie-restricted diets, 2) inability to engage in physical activity, and
3) lack of adequate social support.
Conclusion: Women with obesity due to pregnancy face many challenges to improve their weight-
control behaviors. As such, improving healthy behaviors not only requires relevant stakeholders’
commitment, but also demands women, their families and communities’ intention to engage in healthy
behaviors.
Please cite this article as: Heidari Dehui P, Negarandeh R, Pashaeypoor S. Weight Management Challenges in
Nulliparous Women Being Overweight or Obese Due to Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study. IJCBNM. 2023;11(3):190-
200. doi: 10.30476/IJCBNM.2023.97714.2202.
Copyright: ©International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Weight management challenges after pregnancy
research hidden and unknown dimensions of according to the opinion of participants. Two
this problem can rarely be achieved in some methods were used to listen deeply to the
studies, this qualitative study aimed to explain participants, record and take notes for non-
the challenges in performing post-pregnancy verbal messages such as silence and laughter
weight-management behaviors in nulliparous with the permission of the person. Interviews
women being overweight and obese due to with each participant lasted 50±10 minutes.
pregnancy. The interview guide included open-ended
questions such as: “What were the challenges
Materials and Methods of weight loss in the period after pregnancy?”
and “What were the barriers of weight loss
This study was conducted with a qualitative in the period after pregnancy?” Accordingly,
research approach and conventional content besides the main interview questions, probing
analysis method in Tehran, Iran from October questions were asked to obtain a better
to December 2021. Participants consisted of understanding of the participants’ narratives.
mothers with overweight or obesity one year Examples of these questions were “What do
after giving birth who referred to comprehensive you mean by this?”, “Why?”, and “How?”
health care centers in the south of Tehran The interview guide was developed by the
and were selected using purposive sampling. authors to address the research question. At
Inclusion criteria were the first pregnancy the end of the interviews, the interviewees
experience, no history of abortion, and no were asked about any non-addressed points,
mental disorders and psychotropic drug use. informed about the potential need for more
Also, women with the following criteria were interviews, and requested to allow the
included in the study: having BMI <25 kg/m2 interviewer to contact them in case of any
before and at the first visit at the beginning (5-8 possible questions about their experiences.
weeks) of pregnancy (according to the Institute The interviews continued until data saturation
of Medicine guidelines), a BMI of 25–29/9 was achieved, i.e., no new information was
kg/m2 (being overweight) and BMI≥30 kg/m2 obtained from the data and all aspects of the
(obesity) in the 12th month after pregnancy, data were adequately developed.
women between the ages of 18 and 45 whose All interviews were conducted in a
knowledge and experience could be used, private room, and the interviewees felt free
a normal pregnancy and delivery at 38 to 42 to talk about their experiences and feelings
weeks of gestation, a healthy and normal-weight about obesity and its management in the
(2500-<4000 gr) child at birth, willingness post-pregnancy period. The interviewer’s
to take part in the study, and ability to share observations were also recorded in a diary
their experiences with obesity. The exclusion during and after each interview. All interviews
criterion in the study were dissatisfaction to were conducted by one of the researchers.
continue the study. The interviews were recorded using an
Data collection continued in comprehensive audio recorder and immediately transcribed
health service centers once the study proposal verbatim by one of the researchers manually.
was approved by the ethics committee of To protect the data of the recorded interviews,
Tehran University of Medical Sciences. the corresponding author kept the interview
Data were collected using individual and files in an encrypted format.
semi-structured interviews. Sampling was In the present study, purposive sampling
purposeful according to the inclusion criteria. was used, and the codes and categories
Individuals were selected who could share were developed. A total of 15 overweight
different experiences about the study. The and obese mothers were included in this
interview was done by setting an appointment study. Data were analyzed based on the
and the place of the interview was chosen conventional content analysis approach and
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Weight management challenges after pregnancy
the proposed method proposed by Lundman interaction with the participants. Interview
and Graneheim who suggested five steps for transcripts were handed to the participants
qualitative data analysis.24 In the first step, and their comments were applied. In addition
the text was transcribed immediately after to prolonged engagement with the data, a
each interview. In the next step, the text of colleague reviewed all the research steps,
the interview was reviewed to gain a general and his comments were applied. Maximum
understanding and in the third step, the whole variation was observed when selecting the
text of each interview was considered as a participants. To ensure dependability, all the
unit of analysis. Then, the semantic units study steps were reviewed and examined by
were identified, and the data management the research team by exchanging ideas. As an
was done using MAXQDA software version external check, comments of a faculty member
10. In the fourth step, based on the constant familiar with qualitative research and women
comparison of similarities, differences and health were also applied in all steps, and the
proportions, the codes showing a single results were confirmed. As to confirmability,
subject were placed in a category. In the the study steps were documented and made
last step, the hidden content in the data available as a reference for future research.
was introduced as the main category by As to transferability, all steps were described
comparing the sub-categories with each in detail, so that the findings could be
other (Table 1). generalized to other populations with similar
In the present study, the accuracy of the characteristics.
study data was examined through four criteria The study proposal was approved by
created by Guba and Lincoln including the ethics committee of Tehran University
credibility, dependability, confirmability, of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Code:
and transferability.23 Credibility was ensured IR.TUMS.FNM.REC.1397.198). A written
by establishing appropriate rapport and close informed consent was obtained from all
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Weight management challenges after pregnancy
me to eat a lot (laughing). My parents-in-law it. (P10). High workload was mentioned as
want me to eat more to be strong and have a another personal restriction: “I do not have
fat baby.” (P11) any daily activity. I’m always busy cleaning
Working mothers found going back to the house and checking up on the child. I do
work after maternity leave difficult. They not have enough time to go for a walk or do
said being with the colleagues makes them exercise.” (P7)
accompany the colleagues and eat, regardless Financial problems were considered as
of food. “I’m busy with work, and I’m always the main barrier to access to sports facilities:
in a hurry to cook, so I can’t make time for “Sometimes I decide to go to the gym, but our
salad.” (P7) neighbor has registered and the cost of going
According to Mothers, taking care of to the gym is too high and our income is not
children was very time-consuming. A enough.” (P6)
respondent mentioned: “I do not have enough
time because we usually spend time with 2.b. Environmental Restrictions
children.” (P12) Some participants said that Covid-19
played an important role in gaining weight
1.b. Limitations of Dietary Modification and adversely affected the mobility in
Mothers who were visited by nutritionists families, including women after pregnancy.
to lose weight could not do their “After work, we can go for a walk in a park
recommendations due to high cost and time near us. We may use such facilities, but now
shortage. A mother stated: “I went to nutrition it is not possible because of Covid-19.” (P3)
counseling once, but I couldn’t do the things The participants noted that the lack of
I had been said due to being busy and their sport facilities and long distances limited
difficult diet. It can be expensive.” (P1) their ability to engage in physical activity.
Breastfeeding moms insisted on eating A respondent said: “There are not enough
more to increase their milk supply and provide facilities near us. If I were in another area
their child’s nutrition. They also believed that with enough facilities, I might have used it
eating less would be harmful to their milk and better” (P6).
eventually their baby. Two participants said:
“I’m always obsessed with eating different 3. Lack of Adequate Social Support
foods to increase my milk supply. My priority Participants said that they needed social
is my baby.”(P11). “I don’t care about myself support for the management of weight.
and the body image; my child’s health is more This main category was captured under the
important. Why? Because I am responsible for following sub-categories:
it. Breastfeeding should be complete.” (P6)
3.a. Need for Support from Others
2. Inability to Engage in Physical Activity They found it useful to have a friend with
According to the participants, personal and similar circumstances or communicate with
environmental restrictions were challenging people with similar circumstances. A mother
for engaging in physical activity. stated: “I really want to have a friend who is
also obsessed with her overweight. I want her
2.a. Personal Restrictions to ask me to come earlier in the morning to
Mobility has decreased due to physical go for a walk before work.” (P8)
problems caused by pregnancy. A mother Husbands’ support was thought to
said: essential in most cases. “In my opinion, being
“Since I had a cesarean section, I’ve had accompanied by husband can be helpful.”(P3)
abdominal pain. Therefore, I could not do “I really want my husband to support me
any activity at all. That’s why I didn’t follow alone while I’m exercising.” (P11)
3.b. Need for Support from Health Providers in eating behaviors and mental health of
Mothers also talked about the lack of these women during that period. Healthcare
attention from health providers in maternal teams need to be restructured to provide
weight management. They need the training more focused follow-up care for women with
to lose weight in health centers. They said: obesity during the postnatal period in terms
“Although the focus is on the mother and of their physical and emotional health.21
the health of the fetus during pregnancy, the The next obstacle for mothers to improve
mother is ignored after delivery. They do not their nutrition was their family and other
receive dietary counseling.” (P8). “No one people who did not allow the mother to
paid attention to me for education. Only the go on a diet. They raised one of the most
child is the center of attention.” (P15) important obstacles in the women’s lives.
They had to have the same diet as the family.
Discussion They mentioned the lack of support from
their families about eating healthy meals.
This study aimed to explain the challenges The mother was advised by families to be
in performing post-pregnancy weight- patient and lose weight after breastfeeding.
management behaviors in nulliparous women In one study, behavior change interventions
being overweight and obese due to pregnancy. showed that family members could support
Our findings showed that mothers could gain or hinder behavior change.25 The results of
weight in the postpartum period. Giving birth a study showed the importance of familial
is a life-changing experience for women, and involvement with the postpartum routine. The
the challenge of weight management in major constant presence of mothers and mothers-in-
physiological, psychological, and social changes law supports a more balanced diet since they
should not be underestimated.20 often help with the preparation of healthier
Nutrition plays a significant role in foods.21
maintaining health and preventing diseases. Working women faced more challenges
Postpartum feeding changes play a role in after maternity leave. According to a research,
gaining weight at this stage of life because obesity rates increased among female workers
women find more barriers to healthy eating, with longer working hours and those who
which can put them at greater risk of work at night or in shifts.26 Some women
overweight or obesity. Researchers in a study strongly believed that not trying to lose weight
on eating behavior in the postpartum period and improving their diet was due to being
found that nutrition was not an important concerned about hurting the child. Mothers
issue for a woman with obesity. There is no who had low birth weight babies disagreed
limitation to return to old eating behaviors on changing the diet to lose weight.15 A study
that have been developed in pregnancy. There showed that a lower diet quality in women 12
is feeling of loneliness and helplessness months after childbirth may indicate increased
during postpartum, which strongly affect pressures, balancing childrearing and return
the eating behavior of women.21 On the other to work responsibilities. This underlines the
hand, some women do not find losing weight need to support women.27
necessary, due to lack of motivation.22 Our Women who visited a nutritionist to lose
findings showed that most participants paid weight stopped the diet since they found
more attention to their diet for appropriate that diet ineffective and time consuming.
breastfeeding and having a healthy child. In Of course, the most important reason was
a study by Coe et al., the participants believed inability to afford the diet. The most important
that being a mother could lead to distraction point was being prevented from dieting by
from their diet.24 Postpartum period provides health personnel and going on breastfeeding
an opportunity to develop long-term changes while health centers play an important role
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in guiding and following up this problem in Some participants did not have enough
women with obesity. The study indicated time to exercise, and some had difficulties
that the food and health care that women going to the gym. According to studies,
with obesity assumed during pregnancy common barriers to exercise were children
were abandoned in the postpartum period and time constraints.32 Based on the findings
by the healthcare team.28 Also, in this study, of a study, being too busy with caring the
the participants reported that the health child, mothers could not manage to focus on
professionals did not accompany them to lose their diet.33 Taking care of the child, managing
weight after delivery. home as well as working outside home can
Based on our findings, some factors lead to changing priorities. Therefore, they
including physical problems, cost, and put self-caring, including finding time to eat
Coronavirus pandemic were considered the well and engaging in exercise at the bottom
most important factors in reducing mobility. of their schedule.19 Nurses can encourage new
According to the participants, fatigue, lack of mothers to find a walking partner, especially
energy, physical limitations, and insufficient another new mother or a friend, to help them
time after giving birth were the most common continue their physical activity. This increases
barriers to exercise. A study confirms our motivation and consistency in more physical
findings, showing that the total amount of activity during the first year after giving
physical activity during pregnancy was more birth. Raising awareness and providing
than postpartum. Pregnancy and postpartum some free exercise sessions for women can
promote a sedentary lifestyle.29 Also, be useful. Mothers found having a partner
participants believed that the neighborhood to deal with obesity useful. According to
and a home with limited space could limit a study, scheduling the walk and having a
doing exercise. The most important obstacle walking partner were the factors that could
was the financial status. Women do not facilitate walking for physical activity.32
care about their weight and may look for Evidence showed that one of the barriers to
the simplest and inexpensive exercises due losing weight was having an unsupportive
to economic conditions. According to the partner.34 A study showed that some women
results of the reviewed studies, a statistically lacked access to supportive resources about
significant relationship was observed between postpartum physical activity and decreased
the individuals’ socioeconomic status and their physical activity pursuit after negative
postpartum weight retention.30 personal physical or childcare experiences.35
All participants spent the most time at Healthcare providers, nurses, and nutritionists
home due to COVID-19-related restrictions were considered to be important sources of
and fear. In the current study, the participants information in this period.
said that the coronavirus pandemic and its A systematic review study described the
restrictions affected walking, exercising and barriers and facilitators to a healthy lifestyle
swimming, and women could not use the sport in the first 2 years postpartum. They identified
facilities outside home. A study on obesity, barriers and facilitators related to opportunity
eating behaviors, and physical activity in (e.g., social support from partners, family,
adults during Corona pandemic showed that friends, and healthcare providers; childcare
people experienced some changes in weight needs).36 According to the results of a study
management behaviors during the lockdown in an attempt to adjust to the changes in the
period. They faced more barriers in managing postpartum period, in addition to their efforts
their weight than before. For example, 56% to improve the situation, women need to be
of more frequent and snack use and a 40% supported by their husbands, family members
reduction in exercise and physical activity and acquaintances, healthcare team, and
were reported.31 society in different dimensions.37
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