Development of a novel digital APP to promote healthy lifestyles in pregnancy

Women of reproductive age are on an accelerated pathway to obesity development. Pregnancy is a recognised high-risk life stage that increases weight gain, in turn, increasing risk of complications for both mother and baby and driving long-term obesity development. Healthy lifestyle intervention improves adherence to guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy as well as optimising lifestyle behaviours including diet and physical activity. Translating research into wider, real world impact is now needed in order to reach broader populations of women. Here, the candidate will have the opportunity to test a novel digital program that aims to optimise healthy lifestyle behaviours, prior to pregnancy and improve adherence to weight gain guidelines during pregnancy. Monash Centre for Health Research Implementation sits within the School of Public Health and aims to create, synthesis and implement public health research into real world impact. The candidate will receive opportunity to conduct independent research with the support of a multidisciplinary research team with expertise across women’s health translation and implementation.