Intuitive eating is associated with improved health indicators at 1-year postpartum in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

J Health Psychol. 2021 Jul;26(8):1168-1184. doi: 10.1177/1359105319869814. Epub 2019 Aug 22.

Abstract

We evaluated the associations between intuitive eating during and after pregnancy with metabolic health at 1-year postpartum in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and in high-risk gestational diabetes mellitus subgroups. One hundred seventeen women who consented and completed the French intuitive eating questionnaire during and after pregnancy were included. We found an association between intuitive eating during and after pregnancy with lower body mass index, weight retention, fasting glucose, and HbA1c at 1-year postpartum in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and in high-risk gestational diabetes mellitus subgroups with overweight/obese or with prediabetes in the postpartum period. Our results suggest that intuitive eating could be an effective intervention for weight and glucose control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: body mass index; gestational diabetes mellitus; glycemic control; intuitive eating; weight retention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose
  • Body Mass Index
  • Diabetes, Gestational*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Overweight
  • Postpartum Period
  • Prediabetic State*
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Blood Glucose