The effect of exercise and nutritional interventions on weight management and health outcomes during and following pregnancy in overweight and obese women

Pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of obesity, as it often precipitates long-term weight gain. Despite clear guidelines for appropriate gestational weight gain (GWG), a large percentage of women develop excessive GWG, which is regularly coupled with long-term postpartum weight retention. Pre-pregnancy body mass is one of the most influential regulators of GWG and previous research has shown that overweight and obese women are most likely to exceed the recommended range. The prevalence of pre-gravid overweight and obese women has increased dramatically in recent years, with healthcare costs in the UK being 23% more for overweight women and 37% more for obese women compared with normal weight women. Moreover, maternal obesity is associated with numerous negative maternal and foetal health implications, such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, macrosomia, caesarean section and an unlikeness to breastfeed. As such, effective, appropriate interventions to limit excessive GWG and prevent postpartum weight retention are required, particularly for overweight and obese women. This PhD will address this remit by investigating the effectiveness of exercise and nutritional based interventions on weight management in a diverse population of pre-gravid, pregnant and postpartum women.

Until recently, maternal obesity has been a neglected and poorly understood area of research, but is now emerging as a critical population who urgently need updated, appropriate, effective and meaningful guidelines. It is clear, from the continuing rising prevalence of maternal obesity both in the UK and world-wide, that we do not know how to engage with overweight and obese women of child-bearing age, with regards to physical activity and healthy eating. Indeed, the perceived barriers to exercise and good eating habits in this group are well-documented and include a lack of knowledge, time, money and childcare. Previous research has failed to address issues regarding compliance with and appropriateness of interventions and have failed to adopt stringent experimental conditions and high-quality research designs. This PhD will include studies conducted before, during and following pregnancy and will include both exercise and nutrition based interventions and their effects on body composition and other health-related measures. Priority will be given to recruiting obese women (BMI > 30 kg·m-2) to ensure that this research targets the most “at risk” women, with the greatest potential for health benefits. However, the inclusion of overweight women (BMI ≥ 25 kg.m-2) is also necessary, as this group represents the potential to intervene sooner and possibly prevent the development of obesity. The interventions will adopt a multi-disciplinary approach and will offer the successful candidate an opportunity to build on existing (sport and exercise science) skills and knowledge and to collaborate with other institutions and organisations. The PhD will be similar to a randomised controlled trial and will include a number of conditions/studies: (1) nutritional intervention, (2) exercise intervention, (3) combination of exercise and nutritional intervention and (4) control/no intervention, which will take place before, during and following pregnancy. The PhD will investigate the effects of these conditions on body composition and a number of health-related outcomes.

UK 1st Class / 2.1 Bachelor’s degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) and/or UK Master’s degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) in Sport and Exercise Science, Exercise Nutrition and Health or Physiology related discipline.