Table 1 Study characteristics

Denison et al. (2015) [29]

UK

To explore the barriers and facilitators to physical activity and lifestyle interventions in pregnant women with Class III obesity (BMI >40kg/m2)

Semi-structured interviews

Purposive-sampling from a specialist-led clinic providing care to pregnant women with class III obesity.

13

25-34 years

Pregnant

Class III obesity (>40kg/m2)

17-37 weeks gestation

Framework approach

17

Ferrari et al. (2013) [30]

USA

Elicit from pregnant women their perceptions about provider advice regarding diet and physical activity in pregnancy.

Focus groups

Sample was part of a larger study. Recruited through newspaper ads, posted flyers and prenatal clinics.

58

18-35 years

Pregnant

 N/A

27-30 weeks gestation

Thematic analysis

16

Faucher et al. (2020) [31]

UK

Identify beliefs and attitudes about GWG, exercise, and proposed intervention

Focus groups

Women were recruited with flyers and HCP approaches in their birth centres

17

17-35

Pregnant

Pre-pregnancy BMI of 30 or greater

<14 to 38 weeks gestation

Content Analysis

15

Flannery et al. (2020) [32]

Ireland

Explore overweight and obese women's experience and perception of dietary behaviours and weight management during pregnancy

Semi-structured interviews

Women with a BMI of 25 or higher were identified and recruited in a maternity hospital

30

20-40+

Pregnant

Between 20 and 40km/m2

Across all trimesters but most women between 27 and 40 weeks gestation.

Thematic analysis

19

Flannery et al. (2018) [33]

Ireland

Systematically identify the barriers and enablers to physical activity for women who are overweight and obese in pregnancy using the TDF and COM-B model.

Semi-structured interviews

Purposive-sampling of women with BMI ≥25kg/m2 in the public antenatal clinic of one maternity hospital.

30

Pregnant

BMI ≥25kg/m2

Across all trimesters

Framework approach with inductive thematic analysis

16

Garnweidner et al. (2013) [34]

Norway

To explore experiences with nutrition related information in routine antenatal care of an ethnically and socially diverse study population.

Semi-structured interviews

Recruited by midwives in eight mother and child health centres in Oslo.

17

average 28 years old

Pregnant and postpartum

Pre-pregnancy BMI ≥25kg/m2

Before the 30th week of pregnancy and two months afterwards

Interpretative phenomenological analysis

16

Groth et al. (2013) [35]

USA

Understand how urban, low income, pregnant African American women view physical activity and how they approach nutrition while pregnant.

Focus groups

Recruited from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services and prenatal clinic waiting rooms

26

18-39 years

Pregnant

 N/A

Over 60% in their first 20 weeks of pregnancy

Content analysis

15

Holton et al. (2017) [36]

Australia

Describe women's experiences and perspectives of care for weight management during pregnancy in Melbourne, Australia.

Semi-structured interviews

Recruited from Medical Centre using purposive recruitment strategies inc. Flyers and direct approaches from researchers

17

24-43 years (32.6 average)

Pregnant and postnatal

 N/A

Late pregnancy (≥28 weeks gestation) and 4-6 weeks after giving birth.

Thematic analysis

15

Keely et al. (2017) [37]

UK

To explore the experiences, attitudes and health-related behaviours of pregnant women with a BMI >40kg/m2

Semi-structured interviews

Purposeful sampling in a specialist antenatal clinic for women with BMI >40kg/m2.

11

26-40 years

Pregnant and postnatal

Pregnant women with BMI ≥40kg/m2

2 interviews during pregnancy and 1 postnatally

Thematic content analysis

15

Kominiarek et al. (2015) [28]

USA

To examine and describe obese racial-ethnic minority women's knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyles during pregnancy.

Focus-groups

Recruited at Women’s health clinic via recruitment flyers or recruited by study personnel.

16

21-39 

Pregnant

Prepregnancy BMI ≥30kg/m2

Across all trimesters

Conventional qualitative data analysis (Thematic analysis)

17

Lee et al. (2018)* [38]

Australia

To assess and compare pregnancy nutrition recommendation knowledge and to explore how nutrition knowledge impacts on food choices in pregnant women and nutrition education practices of antenatal care providers.

Semi-structured interviews

Convenient sample from eligible pool of pregnant women attending the hospital for antenatal care. .

 19

<30 to 40+

Pregnant

  N/A

Across all trimesters, 45% women last trimester

Thematic analysis

15

Leiferman et al. (2011) [39]

USA

To elucidate unique barriers and facilitators to antenatal physical activity engagement among women of low socioeconomic status.

Individual and paired interviews

Passive print advertisement Via health care clinics and community organisations

25

18-46

Yes

 N/A

Second and third trimester

Thematic analysis

15

Marquez et al. (2009) [40]

USA

To understand how Latina women perceived, understood, and valued exercise to inform a physical activity intervention designed.

Focus groups

Purposive sampling waiting room at the time of patients pre-natal appointments by bilingual/bicultural interviewers.

20

 18 to 40

Yes

N/A

<28 weeks gestation

Content analysis

15

O'Brien et al. (2017) [41]

Ireland

To explore the various factors within the life course that overweight and obese pregnant women perceive to influence their food choice and physical activity behaviours.

semi-structured in depth interviews

Purposive sampling from patients attending the ODP

22

Mean 32.3

Yes

BMI ranging between 25kg/m2 and 39.9kg/m2

34th week of pregnancy

Inductive thematic analysis

16

Padmanabhan et al. (2015) [42]

UK

Examine pregnant women's weight-related attitudes and beliefs (including the weight-related behaviours of diet and physical activity during pregnancy).

Semi-structured face to face interviews

All participants were previously recruited to a prospective quantitative longitudinal study via invitation letters and participation information sheets.

19

19-38 years

Yes

N/A

Third trimester

systematic thematic content analysis

16

Reyes et al. (2013) [43]

USA

Understand the perceptions of low-income, overweight, and obese, African-American mothers about diet quality in pregnancy, specifically focused on what facilitators and barriers exist to eating healthy.

Semi-structured, individual interviews

Waiting room of a single university-affiliated outpatient prenatal care clinic, serving primarily Medicaid-insured patients.

21

≥18

Yes

Excluded in BMI <25

All trimesters in pregnancy

Principles of grounded theory

16

Sui et al. (2013)* [44]

Australia

Describe overweight and obese pregnant women's views about making healthy behavioural changes during pregnancy.

Face-to-face interviews

Purposeful sample of women participating in larger study.

26

not specified

Yes

Criteria of larger study.

28 weeks gestation

Framework analytical approach

16