Healthy Mothers on the Move: A Community‐Based Primary Prevention Research Project for Pregnant and Postpartum African American and Latino Women in Detroit.

Abstract

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing among African and Latino women of childbearing age. Increases in caloric intake and non-nutrient dense food choices may lead to excessive weight gain and postpartum weight retention, increasing their risk for subsequent obesity and diabetes. The overall aim of this research project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle intervention tailored to the needs of pregnant and postpartum Latino (L) and African American (AA) women on improving dietary behaviors and physical activity in an effort to reduce excessive weight gain and post partum weight retention. Our preliminary data on baseline fruit (F) and vegetable (V) intake levels prior to intervention from our first 2 cohorts (n=L:39 A:23) indicate that the levels of F and V intakes were below the “5 a day” guidelines. The L women reported an average intake of 1.5 Fs and 1.5 Vs/day and the AA women reported an average intake of 2.8 Fs and 1.7 Vs (based on “5 a day method”). Our intervention strategies to help increase F and V intakes include group meetings which offer healthy eating demonstrations and educational curriculum designed to identify the association between health and food choices. A total of 320 pregnant African American and Latino women, randomized into Healthy Lifestyle and Pregnancy education classes, will participate in this project through 6 weeks postpartum.