The effect of pre-pregnancy dietary advice and regular exercise in women with overweight or obesity on pregnancy outcomes: the BEGIN BETTER randomised trial.

Women randomised to the Lifestyle Intervention Group will receive written and verbal advice based on current RACGP's guideline on Preventative activities prior to pregnancy from a registered midwife at the trial entry appointment, in which information will be provided to encourage women to stop smoking and use of illicit substances, limit alcohol intake, commence folate supplementation, and ensure immunisations (particularly rubella) and cervical cytology are current, consistent with best clinical practice. The comprehensive dietitian prescribed intervention will combine dietary, exercise and behavioural strategies to promote weight loss. Behavioural Goals We will encourage and support behavioural strategies to increase physical activity and improve diet. Dietary and Weight Loss Goals Dietary advice will be dietitian prescribed, consistent with current Australian guidelines, and designed to encourage weight loss. The dietary intervention will be individualised for each woman. Physical Activity Goals Women will be instructed to increase physical activity by their health coach to meet the recommendations of Australia’s Physical Activity & Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Adults. Weight Loss Maintenance Strategies will promote ongoing healthy dietary and physical behaviours, and will involve regular ongoing face to face, telephone and SMS contact with research staff. Adherence to diet and physical activity advice will be assessed by food frequency and physical activity questionnaires at the commencement and completion of the intervention period. Details intentionally brief to protect contamination of the control group. Further information about this intervention is available from the trial contact staff named in this registration.