The effect of a lifestyle-based training package on weight gain and frequency of gestational diabetes in obese and overweight pregnant females

Background: Obese and overweight females require proper programs for moderating and regulating their weight gain during pregnancy and preventing gestational diabetes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a lifestyle-based training package on weight gain and frequency of gestational diabetes in obese and overweight pregnant females. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 140 obese and overweight pregnant females in Tehran, Iran. The training program administered to the intervention group consisted of a 60-to 90-minute session of group training using lectures, booklets, and text messages. A 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to screen for gestational diabetes at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation, and gestational diabetes was diagnosed based on the obtained results. The weight increase was calculated 8 weeks after the intervention compared to the beginning of the study. Results: The test results of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) showed 15 cases of gestational diabetes in the intervention group and 17 in the controls after the intervention, suggesting no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (P = 0.687). Moreover, based on analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and with adjusting the baseline values, the mean weight gain was found to be 3.4 kg in the intervention group and 3.8 kg in the control group, suggesting no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups after the intervention (P = 0.634). Conclusions: Although the frequency of gestational diabetes was found to be higher in the intervention group than in the controls, the difference was insignificant possibly due to use of a small sample size. Further studies are therefore recommended to be conducted using larger sample sizes.