Objectives: FDD was a 12 month, multi-centre, Canadian, randomized study translating diabetes-protective messages after GDM. Male partner participation was encouraged. We compared paternal vs. maternal food choices for interventional (INT) and control (CON) participants before and after FDD.
Methods: INT maternal and paternal participants received information promoting high fibre/low fat foods; portion control; healthy restaurant choices via postpartum seminar, access to branded FDD website and twice-monthly email contact. CON maternal subjects received a postpartum healthy living handout. One-day food records at 3 and 12 months were analyzed for fast food intake (FF) and Canada’s Food Guide (CFG) servings.
Results: 15 INT and 16 CON maternal/paternal pairs provided food records at 3 and 12 months. Considering INT and CON cohorts together: paternal and maternal grain products, milk/alternatives and meat/alternatives consumption met CFG guidelines at 3 and 12 months. Paternal and maternal vegetables and fruit (V and F) intakes were similar but lower than recommended (paternal: goal 8-10 servings/day; baseline 3.8±2.2; 12 months 4.6±2.9; maternal: goal 7-8 servings/day; baseline 4.1±2.8; 12 months 5.4±3.2). Paternal FF intake was higher than maternal at baseline: (0.41±0.61 vs. 0.12±0.34; p=0.03) but not at 12 months (0.44±0.62 vs. 0.34±0.40, p=0.6). Paternal and maternal V and F intakes were modestly correlated by 12 months (r=0.35, p=0.05).
Conclusions: Notable paternal and maternal postpartum diet choices were: servings of V and F did not meet CFG recommendations at 3 and 12 months for men or women; paternal FF intake was higher than maternal soon after delivery, but not at 12 months as maternal servings increased; paternal and maternal V and F intakes were correlated at 12 months postpartum. Therefore, it may be helpful to target both paternal and maternal food choices when promoting healthy living after GDM.
A. Vezina: None. R.M. McManus: None. L.E. Donovan: None. D.B. Miller: None. I.T. Giroux: None.
