Obesity Data Dissemination Program

The Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study (CePAWHS), a project of the Central Pennsylvania Center of Excellence for Research on Pregnancy Outcomes based at the Penn State College of Medicine, is the first large-scale study nationally that investigates the health of preconceptional women in relation to their pregnancy experiences and outcomes. One focus of the project is obesity.

CePAWHS initiated a telephone survey of 2,002 reproductive-age women in central PA to gather data about their health status and health risk indicators for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The second phase of CePAWHS used the results from the survey to develop a group behavior change intervention designed to improve women's pre- and interconception health. This intervention, Strong Healthy Women, was tested in a randomized trial in 15 low-income predominantly rural communities of Central PA. One focus of CePAWHS was ascertaining the prevalence of obesity in women of reproductive-age in Central PA and examining its relationship to health status, health-related behaviors, reproductive outcomes, and later health consequences. CePAWHS also focused on how to change behaviors associated with obesity, notably nutritional habits and physical activity levels.

The program includes:
Lecture #1 (presented live) - Current information about obesity in relation to pregnancy and about extent to which obesity is a clinical concern in PA

Lecture #2 (web-based) - Findings from the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study (CePAWHS) with regard to overweight and obesity among reproductive-age women in Central PA

Lecture #3 (web-based) - Research addressing the control of obesity, especially in women

Lecture #4 (presented live) - Findings from CePAWHS randomized trial of the Strong Healthy Women intervention as it pertains to improving health behaviors in Central PA

This Web area of the Central Pennsylvania Center of Excellence for Research on Pregnancy Outcomes website contains each of these lectures for you to access. Each completed lecture is eligible for one hour of CME credit. Complete information about CME credit and requirements to receive credit is available using the CME Information link at the top of the page.