Planning for pregnancy gives opportunity for compassionate conversations about weight

The report highlights planning for pregnancy as a key missed opportunity to give women health messages to improve their mental and physical health and that of their children. It also calls for all women to work with healthcare professionals to make positive changes when planning to get pregnant and to stay healthy throughout their pregnancy.

Carolyn Pallister, Slimming World Public Health Manager, says: “The CMO is absolutely right to highlight the opportunity for health professionals to talk to women who are planning a pregnancy about how they can manage their weight and improve their health.

“This is a natural time for women to think not only about their own health but also the health of their future child. During this period, many women are particularly open, not only to taking action to lose weight, but also to doing it with support to make long-term changes to their eating habits and becoming more active, rather than through faddy short-term diets.

“We’re the only national weight management organisation to support women through every stage of their pregnancy, from pre-conception to post natally, and work closely with the Royal College of Midwives. We know that many health professionals may worry about talking to women about their weight for fear of causing offence. However, with such strong evidence that carrying excess weight can increase the health risks for both mother and baby, they really have a duty of care to raise the issue.

“The really important thing though is how health professionals go about having that difficult conversation. Talking to patients about their weight in a compassionate, caring and respectful way can empower women to make healthy changes, while being critical or judgemental is not only offensive, it can be very counterproductive.

“We believe the Government should introduce a national training programme for health professionals to give them the skills to raise the issue in a compassionate way and to understand where to signpost patients for effective support in making healthy lifestyle changes, losing weight and maintaining weight loss.”

Case study

Julie Guihen, 34, from Sheffield, was diagnosed with PCOS age 18 years ago. At the time her doctor let her know that, coupled with her weight, the condition could make it difficult for her to conceive. It stayed at the back of her mind until 2014 later when she joined Slimming World, lost 2st and fell pregnant. She’s now lost a total of 5st.

“After my doctor talked to me about my weight and PCOS I didn’t take action immediately,” Julie says. “Rather, I waited until I decided to have a child at which point I felt ready to make a change.

“I could have lost weight on a faddy diet, but I didn’t see the point really. I wanted this to be a proper lifestyle change so that not only would I lose weight, but I’d also learn the habits to give my child the best possible start in life too.

“I joined Slimming World last year and felt immediately at home after receiving a warm welcome. Making changes such as cooking healthy meals from scratch while still being able to have the occasional treat meant that I never felt hungry or deprived. I lost 2st and was amazed when I got the news that I was pregnant.

“Slimming World has a special programme for pregnant women that focuses on making healthy lifestyle changes, rather than on weight loss. My midwife was happy for me to continue attending Slimming World throughout my pregnancy to help me stay on-track and avoid gaining excess weight. I had a very healthy pregnancy and have now lost a total of 5st since first joining Slimming World.

“There is no doubt that this has been an amazing thing for me and my family. We all eat the same meals, we’re happy and healthy, and we love going out and about together. It was definitely the right time for me to make a change when I was planning a family and I’m sure that will be the case for many other women too.”