Madres Para la Salud (Mothers for Health)

The purpose of "Madres Para la Salud" \[Mothers for Their Health\] is to see how support and encouragement can help women to make positive changes in their health. This program tested if supportive information, encouragement, and walking as a group would increase physical activity and health benefits, such as weight loss and postpartum depression. Participants in this study were randomly assigned to one of two groups, a walking or a non-walking group. The walking group met weekly. Participants were given a pedometer to record the number of steps taken daily. Participants met one time each week with our study staff. Participants walked four other days per week on their own, or with other group members. Participants measurements included body fat, waist, and hip at the beginning of the study, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The non-walking group received a weekly mailed newsletter about topics such as parenting, infant growth and development, and reproductive health. Non-walking group participants' measurements included body fat, waist, and hip at the beginning of the study and at 6 and 12 months.