American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 202, Issue 2 , Pages 135.e1-135.e8 , February 2010

Pregnancy: a “teachable moment” for weight control and obesity prevention

  • Suzanne Phelan, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Suzanne Phelan, PhD, California Polytechnic State University, Kinesiology Department, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0386

Received 17 December 2008 ,Revised 5 March 2009 ,Accepted 1 June 2009.

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 This study was sponsored by Grant National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases R01 071667-01.

 Cite this article as: Phelan S. Pregnancy: a “teachable moment” for weight control and obesity prevention. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010;202:135.e1-8.

PII: S0002-9378(09)00628-0

doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.06.008

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 202, Issue 2 , Pages 135.e1-135.e8 , February 2010