Evidence mapPaperPMID 40189488Full record

ArticleObesity (Silver Spring, Md.)2025

Greater intrinsic motivation for engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors is associated with reduced postpartum weight.

Susan D Brown, Michaela Kiernan, Monique M Hedderson, Charles P Quesenberry, Bridgette P Smith, Andrea Millman, Hillary Serrato Bandera, Saher Daredia, Jun Shan, Assiamira Ferrara

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Susan D BrownSchool of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3920-0945
Michaela KiernanSchool of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Monique M HeddersonDivision of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.
Charles P QuesenberryDivision of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.
Bridgette P SmithCenter for Upstream Prevention of Adiposity and Diabetes Mellitus (UPSTREAM), Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.
Andrea MillmanDivision of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.
Hillary Serrato BanderaDivision of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.
Saher DarediaDivision of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.
Jun ShanDivision of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.
Assiamira FerraraDivision of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California, USA.

Funding

Early Life Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Child Growth, Adiposity, and NeurodevelopmentUH3OD023289 · KAISER FOUNDATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2025 to 2025
$3.0M
Motivational Determinants of Postpartum Lifestyle Behaviors, Weight Retention, and Metabolic SyndromeR01HL142996 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · PI Susan Denise Brown · 2022 to 2023
$1.1M
Translational Research Core - Health Engagement & Action Translational (HEAT)P30DK092924 · KAISER FOUNDATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2025 to 2025
$700k
Mentoring Diverse Early Career Researchers in Behavioral Diabetes Prevention ResearchK26DK138246 · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2025 to 2025
$147k
NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL142996NIDDK NIH HHS K26 DK138246NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK092924NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES019196NIH HHS UH3 OD023289ODCDC CDC HHS UH3 OD023289
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveLifestyle behaviors impact postpartum weight, yet intrinsic motivation for them-i.e., what individuals enjoy, value, and do with ease-is poorly understood. The Pregnancy, Lifestyle and Environment Study-2 (PETALS-2) examined whether intrinsic motivations for engaging in healthy eating, physical activity, and weight self-monitoring are each associated with long-term postpartum weight change.

methodsWe assessed behavior-specific intrinsic motivation using validated scales, from pregnancy up to six time points through 30 months post partum, among diverse cohort participants (N = 311) in a large health care system. Weight was prospectively ascertained via electronic health records, remote scales, and study visits.

resultsIn adjusted regressions, participants with higher intrinsic motivation experienced significantly reduced postpartum weight. For healthy eating motivation, each one-unit-higher score predicted up to -3.43 lb (95% CI: -5.34 to -1.53) postpartum weight at 24 months; for physical activity motivation, -2.70 lb (95 CI: -4.61 to -0.78) at 30 months; for self-weighing motivation, -4.15 lb (95% CI: -6.33 to -1.97) at 30 months; and, for a combined motivation score across all three behaviors, -5.47 lb (95% CI: -7.95, -2.99) at 24 months.

conclusionsGreater intrinsic motivation for healthy lifestyle behaviors predicted reduced long-term postpartum weight and could be a promising target for innovative behavioral interventions.

Indexed as

Health BehaviorHealthy LifestyleMotivationPostpartum PeriodWeight LossAdultBody WeightDiet, HealthyExerciseFemaleHumansLife StylePregnancyProspective StudiesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40189488
PMCPMC12015650

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.