Motivational interviewing: a part of the weight loss program for overweight and obese women prior to fertility treatment

Abstract

This is a retrospective study to investigate whether motivational interviewing increases weight loss among obese or overweight women prior to fertility treatment. Women with body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m(2) approaching the Fertility Clinic, Regional Hospital Skive, were given advice about diet and physical activity with the purpose of weight loss. In addition, they were asked if they wanted to receive motivational interviewing. Among other data, age, height and weight were obtained. Main outcomes were weight loss measured in kg and decrease in BMI. We studied 187 women: 110 received sessions of motivational interviewing (intervention group, n = 110), 64 received motivational support by phone or e-mail only and 13 women did not wish any motivational support (control group, n = 77). The mean weight loss and decrease in BMI was greater in the intervention group compared with the control group (9.3 kg versus 7.3 kg, difference p = 0.01, 3.3 kg/m(2) versus 2.6 kg/m(2), difference p = 0.02). The mean period of intervention was comparable in the two groups, 7.9 month and 7.3 month, respectively, (difference non significant: NS). The study indicates that motivational interviewing may be a valuable tool in weight loss programs for obese and overweight women prior to fertility treatment.

Preconception Care to Reduce the Risks of Overweight and Obesity in Women of Reproductive Age: An Integrative Review

“…For instance, women who were overweight or obese experiencing gestational diabetes in their previous pregnancy lost their weight after one-year follow-up as the result of a 4-week lifestyle intervention prior to a subsequent pregnancy [ 60 ]. Women who received a motivational interviewing (MI) intervention lost more weight than those not receiving the MI component of the intervention prior to fertility treatment (9.3 kg vs. 7.3kg, p = 0.01) [ 63 ]. In other studies, results were not adequate.…”

How effective are weight-loss interventions for improving fertility in women and men who are overweight or obese? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence

“…Trials with longer interventions and follow-up sometimes suffered from higher rates of study drop-out, for example 20.4% in the 12-month Sim et al RCT (Sim et al, 2014a) and 10.6% in the 6-month Mutsaerts et al RCT (Mutsaerts et al, 2016), both of which mainly had diet and exercise. Others had no dropout: Karlsen et al after 7-8 months (Karlsen et al, 2013) and Koning et al after 6 months (Koning, 2015), and both included motivational interviewing. This suggests that enhancing motivation plays a key role in compliance.…”

Health education and competency scale: Development and testing

“…Although the above instruments can elucidate some dimensions of competency in delivering health education by differentiating between teaching skills and empowering skills, these instruments do not measure certain skills and strategies (e.g., motivating skills) needed to facilitate behaviour change during patient education (Noordman, Vet, Weijden, & Dulmen, ). The literature generally agrees that motivational interviews positively affect the outcomes of various health education interventions, including interventions designed for achieving weight loss, smoking cessation, healthy lifestyle, psychological well‐being and adherence to recommendations by health professionals (Hyekyung, Sandy Jeong, & Yeonhee, ; Karlsen, Humaidan, Sørensen, Alsbjerg, & Ravn, ; Krishnamurthi et al., ; Mantler, Irwin, Morrow, Hall, & Mandich, ). Scholars also agree that motivational interviews are effective for delivering health education if the educator respects the autonomy and the belief systems of patients, plays the role of a team player, gives positive feedback, uses reflective listening, affirms the progress of patients, expresses empathy for the challenges faced by patients, identifies discrepancies between the goals and behaviours of patients and collaborates in making changes that improve health (Deci & Ryan, ; Levensky, Forcehimes, O'Donohue, & Beitz, ).…”