5. Conclusions
obesity, weight loss
OBESITY
The postnatal period is important for the mother’s long-term health, as well as preconception health for those who have subsequent pregnancies. This descriptive study suggests that, among a highly deprived population of women living with obesity in the UK, postnatal diet and PA behaviours are inadequate and do not meet guideline recommendations. However, while there is variation at the individual level, the patterns in postnatal weight loss are promising, and suggest that strategies to limit excessive GWG and to support early postnatal weight loss may be beneficial for women to achieve postnatal weights lower than their 1st-trimester weight; therefore, having an impact on subsequent pregnancies. These data support the need to focus on the postnatal period as a preconception period. However, early provision of preconception support should also be extended to pregnancy with a more joined-up approach between pregnancy and postnatal stages. Further longitudinal research is required to explore these findings in a larger population of deprived women living with obesity to better understand postnatal behaviours and weight patterns and to inform the development of interventions to tackle inequalities in maternal obesity and subsequent pregnancy outcomes.