Bodies of concern? A qualitative exploration of eating, moving and embodiment in young mothers.

Grace Lucas,Ellinor K Olander,Debra Salmon

doi:10.1177/13634593211060760

Abstract

In some countries, including the United Kingdom, young mothers' pregnant and postnatal bodies remain an area of concern for policy and practice, with interventions developed to support improved health behaviours including diet and physical activity. This article explores what young women themselves think and feel about eating and moving during and after pregnancy. Semi-structured interviews with 11 young mothers were conducted within two voluntary organisations. Data were analysed using thematic analysis with the theoretical lens of embodiment, which provided an understanding of how young women's eating and moving habits related to how they felt about their bodies in the world. Four themes situated in different experiences of being and having a body were identified: pregnant body, emotional body, social body and surveilled body. Stress and low mood impacted eating habits as young women responded to complex circumstances and perceived judgement about their lives. Food choices were influenced by financial constraints and shaped by the spaces and places in which young women lived. Whilst young women were busy moving in their day-to-day lives, they rarely had the resources to take part in other physical activity. Holistic approaches that focus on how women feel about their lives and bodies and ask them where they need support are required from professionals. Interventions that address the structural influences on poor diet and inequalities in physical activity participation are necessary to underpin this. Approaches that over-focus on the achievement of individual health behaviours may fail to improve long-term health and risk reinforcing young women's disadvantage.

Highlights

Teenage pregnancy rates have declined in recent decades (Sedgh et al, 2015) but in many countries, including the United Kingdom, teenage pregnancy is still considered to be a public health issue (Coyne et al, 2013) with poor health and social outcomes reported for both mothers and their children (SmithBattle et al, 2017)
In a neoliberal climate with emphasis placed on individual responsibility (Williams and Fullagar, 2019), interventions target improving health behaviours during and after pregnancy – as a time when women might be open to receiving health messages (Olander et al, 2018)
Whilst there is limited research investigating levels of physical activity in young mothers, some studies suggest physical activity levels are low for young pregnant (Steinl et al, 2019) and postpartum women (Behrens et al, 2012) providing a further area of focus for health behaviour change

Summary

Introduction

Teenage pregnancy rates have declined in recent decades (Sedgh et al, 2015) but in many countries, including the United Kingdom, teenage pregnancy is still considered to be a public health issue (Coyne et al, 2013) with poor health and social outcomes reported for both mothers and their children (SmithBattle et al, 2017). This is contextualised by data that show that teenage conception rates are highest in the most deprived areas (Office for National Statistics, 2020) and that parents between the ages of 20 and 25, who tend to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, face similar negative outcomes (Action for Children, 2016). Whilst there is limited research investigating levels of physical activity in young mothers, some studies suggest physical activity levels are low for young pregnant (Steinl et al, 2019) and postpartum women (Behrens et al, 2012) providing a further area of focus for health behaviour change

Results

Discussion

Conclusion