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Exploring the need for interventions to manage weight and stress during interconception

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Abstract

Interventions to manage weight and stress during the interconception period (i.e., time immediately following childbirth to subsequent pregnancy) are needed to promote optimal maternal and infant health outcomes. To address this gap, we summarize the current state of knowledge, critically evaluate the research focused on weight and stress management during the interconception period, and provide future recommendations for research in this area. Evidence supports the importance of weight and stress management during the reproductive years and the impact of weight on maternal and child health outcomes. However, evidence-based treatment models that address postpartum weight loss and manage maternal stress during the interconception period are lacking. This problem is further compounded by inconsistent definitions and measurements of stress. Recommendations for future research include interventions that address weight and stress tailored for women in the interconception period, interventions that address healthcare providers’ understanding of the significance of weight and stress management during interconception, and long-term follow-up studies that focus on the public health implications of weight and stress management during interconception. Addressing obesity and stress during the interconception period via a reproductive lens will be a starting point for women and their families to live long and healthy lives.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Susan D. Brown, Ph.D., at Kaiser Permanente Northern California for her comments and edits to the early drafts of the manuscript and Christina M. Frank, BA, at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita for the preparation of this manuscript.

Funding

Support for Dr. Waring was provided by NIH grant KL2TR000160 and for Dr. Kornfield was provided by NIH Grant 1K23MH102360-01A1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Jennifer Huberty & Jeni L. Matthews

  2. Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA

    Jenn A. Leiferman

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Abbey R. Kruper

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA

    Lisette T. Jacobson

  5. Departments of Quantitative Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Molly E. Waring

  6. Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University Ferkauf, Bronx, NY, USA

    Danielle M. Wischenka

  7. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Betty Braxter

  8. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Sara L. Kornfield

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  9. Sara L. Kornfield
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Correspondence to Jennifer Huberty.

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Conflict of interest

Jennifer Huberty, Jenn A. Leiferman, Abbey R. Kruper, Lisette T. Jacobson, Molly E. Waring, Jeni L. Matthews, Danielle M. Wischenka, Betty Braxter, and Sara L. Kornfield declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights and Informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Huberty, J., Leiferman, J.A., Kruper, A.R. et al. Exploring the need for interventions to manage weight and stress during interconception. J Behav Med 40, 145–158 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-016-9813-z

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