Begin Better: Randomised trial of a lifestyle intervention prior to pregnancy to improve pregnancy outcomes and longer-term health.

More than 50% of women of reproduction age are overweight or obese. Lifestyle interventions during pregnancy in women who are overweight have not improved outcomes for mother or baby. Pregnancy is a ‘teachable moment’, but too small a window to impact pregnancy outcomes. The intervention may impact blood pressure, cardiac function, growth trajectories and developmental scores. 

Aims

• Modify the lifestyle intervention previously used in pregnancy and delivery of it to women with overweight and obesity who are planning a pregnancy six months post recruitment. 
  
• Recruit women who are overweight or obese and planning a pregnancy in six months’ time, from a variety of settings. 
  
• To seek funding for longer term follow up of the children and women in this cohort to assess longer term health and impact of the intervention.