Barriers to Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle: Insight from Postpartum Women

Overview

Journal BMC Res Notes

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Biology
General Medicine

Date 2009 Aug 19

PMID 19686601

Citations 38

Authors

Lori Carter-Edwards

Truls Ostbye

Lori A Bastian

Kimberly S H Yarnall

Katrina M Krause

Tia-Janel Simmons

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Postpartum weight retention can contribute to obesity. There may be unique barriers to weight loss in this period.

Findings: Cases are presented for three postpartum women who declined to participate in a postpartum weight loss intervention.Despite their desire to engage in healthier behaviors, or partake in an intervention uniquely designed to promote healthy lifestyles for postpartum women, some find it too difficult to make such commitments. Barriers women face in adopting a healthier lifestyle in this period include 1) time availability; 2) prioritizing other competing life responsibilities above their own health; 3) support from family members, friends, and/or co-workers; and 4) lack of flexibility in the intervention structure. These illustrations describe their perspectives in the context of life balance, perceived health, and support, and reflect the multi-dimensional nature of their lives during the life cycle change of the postpartum period.

Conclusion: Postpartum women face difficult and complex challenges to prioritizing their health and their weight management.

Citing Articles

"Listening to understand," exploring postpartum women's perceptions of their social networks and social support in relation to their health behaviors and weight: A qualitative exploratory study.

Kent-Marvick J, Cloyes K, Clark A, Angulo M, de la Haye K, Debbink M Womens Health (Lond). 2025; 21():17455057241309774.

PMID: 39797626 PMC: 11724422. DOI: 10.1177/17455057241309774.

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension - How Can Orthoptists Help Improve Care?.

MacKeith D Br Ir Orthopt J. 2024; 20(1):258-263.

PMID: 39650623 PMC: 11623087. DOI: 10.22599/bioj.427.

Preferred lifestyle intervention characteristics and behaviour change needs of postpartum women following cardiometabolic pregnancy complications.

Osei-Safo E, Lim S, Makama M, Chen M, Skouteris H, Taylor F Womens Health (Lond). 2024; 20:17455057241247748.

PMID: 39066466 PMC: 11282569. DOI: 10.1177/17455057241247748.

Interest in an Instagram-delivered gestational weight gain intervention among pregnant women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity.

Waring M, Arigo D, Rudin L, Pagoto S, Moore Simas T, Horkachuck A Mhealth. 2024; 10:12.

PMID: 38689614 PMC: 11058595. DOI: 10.21037/mhealth-23-43.

Intervention Strategies to Address Barriers and Facilitators to a Healthy Lifestyle Using the Behaviour Change Wheel: A Qualitative Analysis of the Perspectives of Postpartum Women.

Lim S, Lang S, Savaglio M, Skouteris H, Moran L Nutrients. 2024; 16(7).

PMID: 38613079 PMC: 11013589. DOI: 10.3390/nu16071046.

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