Strengthening Communities Where We Live, Work, and Play | Page 16

Promoting Healthy Behaviors
for Young Mothers

IF SHE CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT
Preventing Maternal Obesity after Pregnancy through Peer Influence

Assistant Professor Mei-Wei Chang,
PhD, RN, works with young, low-income,
postpartum, overweight/obese women to
combat obesity and related conditions. Her
project management team, which includes
undergraduate students, pursues interventions
which address promotion of:
• healthy eating behaviors, including
food planning, selection, purchase,
and preparation,
• a more physically active approach to daily
living, and
• strategies to deal with stressful life events
(such as frequent relocation, taking care
of ill or disabled family members, difficult
relationships with significant others)
without turning to food.

Using Peers to Enhance Recruitment
To create culturally sensitive, healthy lifestyle
materials that speak to the real life issues of this
population, Chang hired WIC mothers to recruit
participants among their peers at participating
WIC clinics. Recruiters receive a five-day
training with focus on hands-on experience and
adherence to study protocol. They are trained
to be culturally sensitive and relate to potential
participants. Techniques include using a gentle

Weight gain during pregnancy and postpartum weight retention/gain are big challenges
for many women. But few realize the serious long-term health consequences associated
with living with those extra pounds.
• About 52% of American women 20–39 years old
are overweight or obese.
• Overweight/obesity is disproportionately high
among low-income women.
• Pregnancy weight gain is a strong predictor
of postpartum weight retention.

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• The postpartum period is critical because weight
retention and/or gain can lead to long-term
increases in body mass index (BMI), exacerbating
type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

and caring voice, demonstrating understanding,
empathy, and excitement about the study while
maintaining eye contact, and offering assistance
with small tasks. They also explain the study’s
purpose, requirements, confidentiality,
flexibility, and no-cost availability.

Providing Education and Peer Support
The Mothers in Motion DVDs feature racially
diverse WIC mothers who participated in a
healthy lifestyle intervention. Each chapter
offers practical knowledge on topics including
stress and time management, parenting,
meal planning and preparation, grocery
shopping, easy ways to increase physical
activity, and more.
WIC mothers participate anonymously in
Peer Support Group Teleconferences led by
nutrition educators trained in motivational
interviewing. Anonymity allows participants to
be candid and offer insight into their lives and
challenges, which provides critical information
for intervention design.
Chang sees the next research step as enrolling
pregnant women, helping them to adhere to
recommended gestational weight gain and
postpartum weight control. As gatekeepers for
the family’s food, mothers will not only become
healthier themselves, but these habits will carry
over to their children.

Associate Professor
Mei–Wei Chang, PhD, RN
Experience and Inspiration
Chang’s family strongly value
helping those less fortunate. From
a young age she was interested in
the relationship of food and health.
As an RN, she realized that she
could make the biggest difference
through research.
Research
She is currently Principal
Investigator for an R18 award
from the NIH-National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, from which she also
received a previous R34 award.
Community Impact
The Mothers in Motion
intervention is being tested
through five Michigan WIC
programs. It provides a randomized
controlled trial for a communitybased program with the potential
to promote healthy eating and
physical activity for many lowincome, overweight/obese young
mothers in Michigan.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEG