Montgomery County Residents of Childbearing Age Invited to Complete Survey Aimed at Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Through Healthy Weight Management

For Immediate Release: Friday, January 20, 2023

Women of childbearing age are encouraged to participate in a survey on healthy weight management designed to identify messages health care providers can use in motivating patients to attain a healthy weight prior to starting a new pregnancy. The survey is a joint effort of three Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) programs—the Improved Pregnancy Outcomes Program, the African American Health Program (AAHP) and the Babies Born Healthy Program.

In 2021, nearly half of all women in Montgomery County who had a fetal /infant loss were overweight or obese prior to the start of their pregnancy, continuing a trend that first began in 2018. Successfully addressing these issues as part of promoting good preconception health will improve birth outcomes and ultimately lower the infant mortality rate.

The survey is being released to coincide with National Healthy Weight Week (Jan. 15-21). Survey respondents will have the option of being entered into a raffle for a limited number of $25 gift cards.

“Unfortunately, the data is clear in Montgomery County that unhealthy weight can lead to unhealthy pregnancy outcomes,” said Jacquelyn Williams, co-chair of the African American Health Program executive committee. “This survey will allow us to hear directly from residents of childbearing age about what messages work to reach and maintain a healthy weight prior to pregnancy and between pregnancies, Our goal is not to shame people, but rather to better our efforts to improve birth outcomes for all women.”

A substantial share of women in Montgomery County who experience fetal or infant loss are overweight or obese, including many women of color. In 2021, women who experienced a fetal or infant lost fell into several categories (as defined by NIH’s  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute):

• 49 percent were normal weight
• 23 percent were overweight
• 22 percent were obese
• 3 percent were under weight
• 3 percent were unknown

Along with administering the survey, DHHS’ home visiting programs for pregnant/postpartum women provide clients with information about good nutrition and healthy eating.

The survey findings will be shared with family medicine physicians, obstetricians and other health care professionals who counsel women on preconception health and wellbeing between pregnancies.

The survey will be open until Wednesday, March 1, and is available in English and Spanish.

For more information, email Sheilah.O’Connor@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-3967.

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Release ID: 23-025
Media Contact: Mary Anderson
Categories: Health