Dietary and lifestyle behaviours in the preconception period

Abstract

Abstract Observational studies have shown strong associations of preconception nutrition and lifestyle behaviours with maternal and child health outcomes; however, awareness of these links among lay people, policy makers and health professionals is very limited. Poor nutrition and obesity are common among women of reproductive age, and the preconception period therefore has underutilised potential as a point of intervention. Intervention studies to improve dietary intake and physical activity during pregnancy have not been successful in reducing adverse maternal and newborn health outcomes, but relatively few interventions have examined effects of modifying diet and lifestyle prior to pregnancy. Despite limited evidence from human clinical trials, increasing evidence from observational studies and from animal trials for the benefits of optimal preconception health suggests public health efforts to increase awareness and improve preconception health behaviours are needed as strategies for disease prevention across generations. This presentation will provide an overview of the evidence for the impact of nutrition and lifestyle behaviours on short and long-term maternal and child health outcomes. This will provide workshop participants with an understanding of health behaviours across the life course that should be considered when building preconception care into existing health services.