Greater intrinsic motivation for engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors is associated with reduced postpartum weight
Authors' conclusion
Greater intrinsic motivation for healthy lifestyle behaviors predicted reduced long-term postpartum weight and could be a promising target for innovative behavioral interventions.
Study context
- Population
- Diverse pregnant/postpartum cohort participants (PETALS-2) in a large health care system, followed from pregnancy through 30 months post partum
- Participants
- 311 participants
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower behavior-specific intrinsic motivation
- Outcome
- Long-term postpartum weight change
- Follow-up
- Up to 30 months post partum
Methodological detailsdiverse cohort, large health care system, Weight ascertained via electronic health records, remote scales and study visits
- Diverse cohort
- Large health care system
- Weight ascertained via electronic health records, remote scales and study visits
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Postpartum weight per one-unit-higher intrinsic motivation score (adjusted regressions)
Healthy eating motivation, at 24 months
−3.43 lb
95% CI −5.34 to −1.53
Physical activity motivation, at 30 months
−2.70 lb
95 CI: −4.61 to −0.78
Self-weighing motivation, at 30 months
−4.15 lb
95% CI −6.33 to −1.97
Combined motivation score, at 24 months
−5.47 lb
95% CI −7.95, −2.99
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Greater intrinsic motivation for engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors is associated with reduced postpartum weight. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 6 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →