Meal Delivery for Postpartum Weight Management

Overseen By Camille S Worthington, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Must not be taking: Weight loss drugs

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Cancer, Renal disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether meal delivery can help low-income women manage their weight after having a baby. The study focuses on women who have experienced a single healthy pregnancy and are considered obese (BMI of 30 or higher, indicating a higher than normal body weight for one's height). Participants must live within the delivery area and be willing to try the provided meals. The trial aims to assess the ease and effectiveness of this approach for women trying to lose weight postpartum. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to explore a potentially effective weight management solution tailored to their needs.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial excludes participants who are currently using medication expected to significantly impact body weight, so you may need to stop such medications to participate.

What prior data suggests that this meal delivery intervention is safe for postpartum women?

Research has shown that meal delivery programs can help new mothers lose weight after giving birth. However, limited information exists about the safety of these programs. Most studies focus on effectiveness for weight loss rather than safety concerns. This trial's meal delivery program aims to help new mothers manage their weight by providing meals and support.

As a feasibility study, it may not yet have extensive safety data. However, meal delivery, being non-invasive, generally poses fewer risks than medication. Prospective participants should discuss any questions with the research team to understand the potential risks and benefits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The meal delivery intervention for postpartum weight management stands out because it combines the convenience of pre-prepared meals with behavioral strategies tailored for new mothers. Traditional methods for postpartum weight management often rely on individual dieting and exercise plans, which can be challenging for new moms juggling numerous responsibilities. This treatment offers a structured approach, delivering nutritious meals directly to participants, which simplifies meal planning and supports healthy eating habits. Researchers are excited because this method could provide an accessible, practical solution for busy postpartum women, potentially leading to more sustainable weight loss outcomes compared to standard care options.

What evidence suggests that meal delivery is effective for postpartum weight management?

Research has shown that lifestyle changes after childbirth, such as having meals delivered, can help women return to their pre-pregnancy weight and reduce postpartum weight retention. This trial will evaluate a meal delivery intervention program designed to help low-income postpartum women lose weight through weekly meal delivery and behavioral strategies. Studies have found that combining meal delivery with behavior-focused strategies effectively manages weight after childbirth. Specifically, one study showed that 91% of participants stayed with the program for 12 weeks, and 85% continued for a year, indicating strong commitment. Another study suggested that changing eating habits can prevent weight gain and even aid weight loss after childbirth. These findings suggest that meal delivery can be an effective tool for managing weight postpartum. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Camille S Worthington, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for low-income postpartum women with obesity who are 18 or older, have had a healthy single baby recently, and live where meal delivery is available. They should not be on weight-impacting meds, involved in other diet studies, or have severe mental health issues.

Inclusion Criteria

Initiated prenatal care at a University of Alabama at Birmingham prenatal clinic

Body mass index >= 30 at enrollment

Willing to consent

Exclusion Criteria

Participation in another dietary and/or weight management intervention postpartum

I have been diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia.

I have a major health condition like kidney disease, cancer, or diabetes.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive 10 home-delivered meals per week for 8 weeks as part of a meal delivery intervention program

8 weeks

Weekly meal deliveries

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in weight, self-efficacy, food security, perceived stress, and diet satisfaction

8 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Meal Delivery

Trial Overview The study tests if delivering meals to new moms with obesity is practical and well-received. It's focused on those who've just given birth and meet specific income criteria.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Meal Delivery Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Meal delivery intervention program designed to help low income postpartum women lose weight through weekly meal delivery and behavioral strategies.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A randomized trial involving 264 women with overweight or obesity found that a prenatal behavioral intervention using meal replacements did not significantly help women return to their prepregnancy weight or reduce postpartum weight retention after 12 months.

Despite the intervention reducing excess gestational weight gain, it did not lead to lasting changes in weight control behaviors after delivery, indicating that simply reducing weight gain during pregnancy may not be enough to prevent postpartum weight retention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does Partial Meal Replacement During Pregnancy Reduce 12-Month Postpartum Weight Retention? Phelan, S., Wing, RR., Brannen, A., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8123857/

Reducing Postpartum Weight Retention: A Review of the ... Lim et al. reported that postpartum weight management interventions had greater efficacy when delivered by health professionals and when combining diet and ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522045488

Effectiveness of a weight loss intervention in postpartum ... The primary outcome was change in body weight after 12 wk and 1 y. The retention rate was 91% and 85% at 12 wk and 1 y, respectively. Results: At baseline, ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-gestational-weight-gain-2023-4bd26

Meal Delivery for Postpartum Weight Management Research shows that postpartum lifestyle interventions, including meal replacements, can help women return to their pre-pregnancy weight and reduce weight ...

4. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e62847

Remote Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Postpartum ... Remote lifestyle interventions delivered during and after pregnancy hold promise for supporting healthy weight outcomes; however, few are tested ...

5. bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-023-05976-w

Dietary treatment postpartum in women with obesity reduces ... Our data suggest that weight gain postpartum may be prevented and even turned into weight loss when an effective dietary intervention is ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9307422/

Effects of a lifestyle intervention on postpartum weight ... With regard to weight loss from delivery to postpartum, intervention effects were observed among women with obesity (6 months: −5.9 kg, 95% CI: ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5084910/

One-year postpartum outcomes following a weight ... At 1 year, mothers in the intervention group weighed 96.3±18.6 kg, and in the control group, 99.7±19.2 kg. There was no significant difference between groups in ...

8. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13669-024-00398-7

Navigating Postpartum Weight Loss: Evidence and ... Intentional weight loss and the use of the weight loss medication is not recommended in pregnancy due to adverse effects and safety concerns [10] ...