Nutrition prior to conception, during pregnancy and post-partum has a profound impact on the short and long term health of both mother and offspring. However, current evidence suggests women fall short of current recommendations for healthy eating during this important life stage.
While our understanding of what women do and don’t eat has advanced in recent years, and effective interventions are available, there has been limited improvements in dietary intake observed over time. An evidence practice gap exists.
Women experience a range of challenges in meeting nutrition requirements, balancing competing priorities, exposure to a complex food environment and a lack of access to accurate nutrition advice and care that meets their needs.
The reproductive years presents a window of opportunity to support women when they have frequent contact with the health system and are more readily open to making positive lifestyle changes. Issues of nutrition promotion to support prevention of non-communicable disease and promote wellbeing in women of reproductive age not systematically addressed within Australia. However, a plethora of opportunities exists to engage with women across multiple sectors implement sustainable service changes. A greater focus is needed on improving access to evidence based services and engaging women in the design of a range of strategies to overcome the challenges to achieving optimal nutrition.