Schofield Barracks

Pregnancy and delivery create significant physical challenges for active duty women, often leading to lasting weight gain and health issues that can affect their military careers. This research aims to evaluate how dietary intervention compares to routine postpartum care in helping new active duty mothers lose weight and regain physical fitness within the first year after childbirth. The study focuses on primiparous active duty women from any military branch, collecting a wide range of data from pregnancy through 12 months postpartum to understand factors influencing weight loss and fitness recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving routine postpartum care and the other receiving intensive virtual dietary counseling by a licensed dietitian at multiple points during the first year postpartum. All participants will use a Garmin fitness tracker to monitor activity and sleep, report diet and breastfeeding through a web-based diary, and complete validated questionnaires assessing depression, diet, and sleep. Data collection will be most intense during the first 12 weeks postpartum, followed by periodic assessments at 6, 9, and 12 months. Throughout the study, women will undergo regular weight checks, complete fitness testing, and submit questionnaires to track their progress. The primary outcomes are achieving required weight standards at 12 weeks postpartum and returning to physical fitness at 12 months postpartum. The research team will also evaluate the utility of the fitness tracker and analyze multiple factors affecting postpartum weight retention and fitness. Participation involves weekly monitoring initially, with follow-up visits and virtual consultations extending across the full year after delivery.