Emotional experiences of obese women with adequate gestational weight variation: a qualitative study

• Grant number: 15/23073-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: January 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Egberto Ribeiro Turato
• Grantee: Egberto Ribeiro Turato
• Host Institution: Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM). Hospital da Mulher Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: As a result of the growth of the obese population, the number of obesewomen of fertile age has increased in the last few years. Obesity in pregnancy isrelated to greater levels of anxiety, depression and physical harm. However,pregnancy is an opportune moment for the intervention of health care professionals toaddress obesity. The objective of this study was to describe how obese pregnantwomen emotionally experience success in adequate weight control. Methods andFindings: Qualitative design that seeks to understand content in the field of health.Thesample of subjects was deliberated, with thirteen obese pregnant women selected toparticipate in an individual interview. Data was analysed by inductive content analysisand includes complete transcription of the interviews, re-readings using suspendedattention, categorization in discussion topics and the qualitative and inductive analysisof the content. The analysis revealed four categories, three of which show thetrajectory of body care that obese women experience during pregnancy: 1) The obesepregnant woman starts to think about her body; 2) The challenge of the diet for theobese pregnant woman; 3) The relation of the obese pregnant woman with the team ofantenatal professionals. The fourth category reveals the origin of the motivation for thechange: 4) The potentializing factors for change: the motivation of the obese womanwhile pregnant. Conclusions: During pregnancy, obese women are more in touch withthemselves and with their emotional conflicts. Through the transformations of theirbodies, women can start a more refined self-care process and experience of the bodymindunit. 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 theprofessionals of the health care team plays an important role in the motivationalsupport of the obese pregnant woman. (AU)