142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Insight into barriers to weight management in postpartum obese women

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Loretta L. Denering, MS, DrPH(c) , Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Angel Hopson, MSN, MPH , Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Giannina Donatoni, PhD , Maternal Child and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Diana E. Ramos, MD, MPH , Reproductive Health, Maternal, Child & Adoloescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Background: In Los Angeles County, 45% of reproductive age women are overweight or obese, with Hispanic and African American (AA) women disproportionally affected. Little is known about weight management interventions during the postpartum period. The Los Angeles Managing Obesity in Moms (LA MOMs) program will provide self-directed education, resources, and support on line and via referrals for postpartum weight management. To develop the patient-focused components, a focus group and surveys were conducted.

Methods: Postpartum overweight/obese women completed an 18 question self-reported survey, identifying barriers and challenges to weight loss. A focus group of obese, postpartum women was subsequently conducted to identify weight loss barriers and challenges.

Results: 206 survey respondents: 47% Hispanic, 22% AA, 25% White and 5% Asians. Focus group participants were 70% AA. Most common barriers to weight loss were lack of time (89%), lack of childcare (31%), and lack of finances (24%). The majority (79%) successfully lost weight in previous attempts and keys to success included exercise (84%), nutrition (88%), and family/friend support (36%). Focus group highlights included identifying the social determinants of health that influence weight loss initiation and weight management.

Conclusions: The LA MOMs program, and any other public health endeavor focusing on improving postpartum obesity, needs to address the most common barriers to weight loss: lack of time and childcare. Strategies that have proved successful in the past should also be leveraged.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
List the prevalence of obesity in LAC Identify three barriers to postpartum weight loss. Describe strategies that have worked in postpartum weight loss.

Keyword(s): Maternal and Child Health, Weight Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I’ve been the Project Director and lead researcher for multiple federally, state, and locally funded grants focusing on the development of health promotion and education activities in areas of maternal and child health and behavioral health. This work is also closely related to my current doctoral dissertation research. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for reducing disparities and risks of adverse health and pregnancy outcomes in African American and Hispanic women.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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