Emotional Experiences of Obese Women with Adequate Gestational Weight Variation: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

BackgroundAs a result of the growth of the obese population, the number of obese women of fertile age has increased in the last few years. Obesity in pregnancy is related to greater levels of anxiety, depression and physical harm. However, pregnancy is an opportune moment for the intervention of health care professionals to address obesity. The objective of this study was to describe how obese pregnant women emotionally experience success in adequate weight control.Methods and FindingsUsing a qualitative design that seeks to understand content in the field of health, the sample of subjects was deliberated, with thirteen obese pregnant women selected to participate in an individual interview. Data was analysed by inductive content analysis and includes complete transcription of the interviews, re-readings using suspended attention, categorization in discussion topics and the qualitative and inductive analysis of the content. The analysis revealed four categories, three of which show the trajectory of body care that obese women experience during pregnancy: 1) The obese pregnant woman starts to think about her body;2) The challenge of the diet for the obese pregnant woman; 3) The relation of the obese pregnant woman with the team of antenatal professionals. The fourth category reveals the origin of the motivation for the change: 4) The potentializing factors for change: the motivation of the obese woman while pregnant.ConclusionsDuring pregnancy, obese women are more in touch with themselves and with their emotional conflicts. Through the transformations of their bodies, women can start a more refined self-care process and experience of the body-mind unit. The fear for their own and their baby's life, due to the risks posed by obesity, appears to be a great potentializing factor for change. The relationship with the professionals of the health care team plays an important role in the motivational support of the obese pregnant woman.

Eating Behaviors in Postpartum: A Qualitative Study of Women with Obesity

“…These findings corroborate previous studies [12,38] that indicate that from three months postpartum some women have a greater weight due to food insecurities and food behaviors. This study suggests to postpartum being a favorable moment to address changes in eating behaviors, since some of these changes have already been experienced during pregnancy [30,39,40,41,42]. …”

“…A clinical-qualitative method with content analysis was adopted, which was composed of three characteristics: (1) existentialist attitude: value attributed to the angst and anxieties by the diseased; (2) clinical attitude: acceptance of suffering; (3) psychodynamic attitude: consideration that subconscious aspects are present in the interviewer-interviewee relationship and in the subject discussed [28,29,30]. …”

The Role of Health-related Behaviors in Gestational Weight Gain among Women with Overweight and Obesity: A Cross-sectional Analysis

“…13 In relation to the psychological factors, it was demonstrated that, among women with obesity and adequate GWG, emotional conflicts arising from fear of their own and their baby's life due to the inherent risks of obesity in this life cycle appear to be a potentiating factor for changing habits. 14 Therefore, understanding the behaviors that influence GWG among women with overweight and obesity is crucial to developing behavioral change strategies and specific guidelines…”

Self-care and Health Care in Postpartum Women with Obesity: A Qualitative Study

“…The clinical qualitative method was used, 11,12 which enables us to understand the emotional experiences of people involved in a healthcare setting. A fundamental part of this methodological structure is the interviewee's discourse.…”