Weight management in pregnancy and after birth: Benefits for mother and baby

Abstract

Around 50% of women of childbearing age are either overweight or obese. The life course approach to public health accepts that key stages can make individuals more vulnerable to negative health outcomes such as weight gain, but that they can also present opportunities for intervention. This article looks at the role of health visitors in supporting mothers to manage their weight during pregnancy, continuing into the post-partum period, with the ambition of ensuring more mothers start a subsequent pregnancy with a healthier body mass index.