Changing psychosocial determinants of physical activity and diet in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus

Authors

Judith Jelsma, VU University Medical Center
Mireille N. M van Poppel, VU University Medical Center, Graz University
Ben J. Smith, Monash UniversityFollow
Nancy Cinnadaio, University of WollongongFollow
Adrian E. Bauman, University of SydneyFollow
Linda C. Tapsell, University of WollongongFollow
N Wah Cheung, Westmead HospitalFollow
Hidde P. van der Ploeg, VU University Medical Center, University of Sydney

RIS ID

117042

Publication Details

Jelsma, J. G. M., Van Poppel, M. N. M., Smith, B. J., Cinnadaio, N., Bauman, A., Tapsell, L., Cheung, N. & van der Ploeg, H. P. (2018). Changing psychosocial determinants of physical activity and diet in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 34 (1), e2942-1-e2942-9.

Abstract

Background: To investigate how a behavioural lifestyle intervention influences psychosocial determinants of physical activity and dietary behaviours in a population at risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: Fifty-nine women with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m² and a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) participated in a randomized controlled study. The intervention group (n = 29) received 2 face-to-face and 5 telephone lifestyle-counselling sessions with a health professional. The control group (n = 30) received care as usual. At baseline and 6 months, psychosocial determinants related to physical activity and diet were measured with a self-administrated questionnaire. Linear regression analyses were applied to test for intervention effects.

Results: The intervention was effective in improving social support (β = 3.5, P < 0.001; β = 2.1, P = 0.02), modifying self-efficacy (β = -2.2, P = 0.02; β = -4.3, P < 0.001), and reducing barriers (β = -3.5, P = 0.01; β = -3.8, P = 0.01) for, respectively, physical activity and diet from baseline to 6-month follow-up in the intervention group compared with the control group. The intervention reduced the following barriers to a physically active lifestyle: lack of energy and lack of motivation. Physical activity barriers like lack of time and lack of childcare were unchanged. The intervention reduced the following barriers to a healthy diet: lack of time, costs, having unhealthy snacks at home, and having cravings for sweets.

Conclusion: This lifestyle intervention influenced psychosocial determinants relevant for overweight women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in prevention of T2DM.