Participant characteristics in the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to optimize gestational weight gain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Grieger, J.A. ; Franks, P.W. LU ; Gomez, M.F. LU
; Pomares-Millan, H.
LU
; Fitipaldi, H.
LU
; Dudenhöffer-Pfeifer, M.
LU
; Ahmad, A.
LU
and Lim, Siew
(2025)
In Communications medicine
5(1).
- Abstract
- Background: Precision prevention involves tailoring interventions to the unique characteristics of a group or individual to maximize their effectiveness. In this study, we examined the role of participant characteristics in the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to optimize gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, and PubMed, from inception up to March 2025, to identify randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions (diet, physical activity, or combined) commencing before or during pregnancy. Participant characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), employment status, fasting low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were assessed. Mean... (More)
- Background: Precision prevention involves tailoring interventions to the unique characteristics of a group or individual to maximize their effectiveness. In this study, we examined the role of participant characteristics in the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to optimize gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, and PubMed, from inception up to March 2025, to identify randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions (diet, physical activity, or combined) commencing before or during pregnancy. Participant characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), employment status, fasting low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were assessed. Mean differences (MD) in GWG were pooled using the random-effect model. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were conducted by participant characteristics (e.g., BMI). Results: A total of 86 studies with 28,270 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All lifestyle intervention types significantly reduced GWG. Combined lifestyle interventions initiated at first (MD −0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.28, −0.07) and early second (13–17 weeks) trimester (MD −0.83; 95% CI: −1.46, −0.20) provide better effectiveness in optimizing GWG. Diet-only interventions significantly reduced GWG only in participants with normal BMI (MD −1.33 kg; CI: −1.75, −1.91) compared to the other BMI categories. Combined diet and physical activity interventions reduce excessive GWG in women with higher baseline HDL-C (β −0.04; 95% CI −0.06, −0.01). Conclusions: Lifestyle interventions reduced excessive GWG, with possible differential effects by intervention initiation time, BMI, and HDL-C. Future studies should consider physiological as well as social characteristics, in line with a holistic framework for precision medicine. © The Author(s) 2025. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/a3916840-e3a5-4787-a66f-23b83ff15efd
- author
- Grieger, J.A.
; Franks, P.W.
LU
; Gomez, M.F.
LU
; Pomares-Millan, H.
LU
; Fitipaldi, H.
LU
; Dudenhöffer-Pfeifer, M.
LU
; Ahmad, A.
LU
and Lim, Siew
- author collaboration
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Communications medicine
- volume
- 5
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 439
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105021016259
- ISSN
- 2730-664X
- DOI
- 10.1038/s43856-025-01049-5
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a3916840-e3a5-4787-a66f-23b83ff15efd
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-07 11:05:02
- date last changed
- 2026-04-08 03:15:08
@article{a3916840-e3a5-4787-a66f-23b83ff15efd,
abstract = {{Background: Precision prevention involves tailoring interventions to the unique characteristics of a group or individual to maximize their effectiveness. In this study, we examined the role of participant characteristics in the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to optimize gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, and PubMed, from inception up to March 2025, to identify randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions (diet, physical activity, or combined) commencing before or during pregnancy. Participant characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), employment status, fasting low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were assessed. Mean differences (MD) in GWG were pooled using the random-effect model. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were conducted by participant characteristics (e.g., BMI). Results: A total of 86 studies with 28,270 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All lifestyle intervention types significantly reduced GWG. Combined lifestyle interventions initiated at first (MD −0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.28, −0.07) and early second (13–17 weeks) trimester (MD −0.83; 95% CI: −1.46, −0.20) provide better effectiveness in optimizing GWG. Diet-only interventions significantly reduced GWG only in participants with normal BMI (MD −1.33 kg; CI: −1.75, −1.91) compared to the other BMI categories. Combined diet and physical activity interventions reduce excessive GWG in women with higher baseline HDL-C (β −0.04; 95% CI −0.06, −0.01). Conclusions: Lifestyle interventions reduced excessive GWG, with possible differential effects by intervention initiation time, BMI, and HDL-C. Future studies should consider physiological as well as social characteristics, in line with a holistic framework for precision medicine. © The Author(s) 2025.}},
author = {{Grieger, J.A. and Franks, P.W. and Gomez, M.F. and Pomares-Millan, H. and Fitipaldi, H. and Dudenhöffer-Pfeifer, M. and Ahmad, A. and Lim, Siew}},
issn = {{2730-664X}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Communications medicine}},
title = {{Participant characteristics in the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to optimize gestational weight gain: a systematic review and meta-analysis}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01049-5}},
doi = {{10.1038/s43856-025-01049-5}},
volume = {{5}},
year = {{2025}},
}