Optimising physical activity after gestational diabetes: A co-produced qualitative study

Elysa is funded by the Sheffield Hallam University Graduate Teaching Assistant scheme.

Gestational diabetes is a common pregnancy complication, with a prevalence of approximately 21% in the UK as of 2021. Women with a previous gestational diabetes diagnosis are 10 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Physical activity is one lifestyle change that can reduce this subsequent risk. However, uptake and maintenance of physical activity in women with young children is low, with physical activity levels declining throughout the lifespan, particularly after pregnancy. Current diabetes prevention programs, while proven to be effective, tend to have low participation rates by young women. This could be due to unique barriers faced at this life-stage. The present PhD therefore aims to better understand and develop recommendations on how to optimise interventions aiming to improve physical activity in women with previous gestational diabetes. To achieve this aim, methods and components employed by current interventions addressing physical activity were mapped against the socio-ecological model. Following this, the barriers, and facilitators specific to physical activity were reviewed and re-thematically synthesised according to the socio-ecological model. Two data collection periods subsequently followed, including interviews with women with previous gestational diabetes and stakeholders along the preconception to postpartum pathway, including healthcare professionals or important charity partners such as Diabetes UK. A realist-inspired approach will synthesise the data collected, iteratively, to develop theories as to what might work better, and understand what may not be currently working. This will culminate in a consultation exercise to refine developed recommendations, using a multi-systems level approach.

Elysa qualified with BSc Sport and Exercise Science (1st class) from Loughborough University in 2019 and undertook an industrial (placement) year at Leicester Diabetes Research Centre in 2017-18.  She was awarded MSc Human Nutrition (Distinction) from The University of Sheffield in 2020. 

She is a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr), Association of Nutrition (26836) and Associate Fellow (AFHEA), Advanced Higher Education (PR260060).

In her spare time, she is part of B Braun Sheffield Hatters basketball club, plays in a samba band and is slowly cultivating a flat full of a variety of plants.

Research output

Communications Lead, Centre of Research Excellence Health in Preconception & Pregnancy (CHIRP) https://hipp.org.au/networks/chirp/  

Journal articles

• Akparibo, R., Aryeetey, R. N. O., Asamane, E. A., Osei-Kwasi, H. A., Ioannou, E., Infield Solar, G., Cormie, V., Pereko, K. K., Amagloh, F. K., Caton, S. J., & Cecil, J. E. (2021). Food Security in Ghanaian Urban Cities: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Nutrients, 13(10), 3615. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103615
• Tuttiett, E., Ioannou, E., Wijnhoven, H., Corfe, B., & Williams, E. (2022). Adaptation and validation of a protein intake screening tool for a UK adult population. Journal of Nutritional Science, 11, E100. doi:10.1017/jns.2022.96
• ACCEPTED AWAITING PUBLICATION - Elysa Ioannou, Henglien Lisa Chen, Vicky Bromley, Sam Fosker, Khalid Ali, Avanka Fernando, Ekow Mensah, Sally Fowler-Davis. The key values and factors identified by Older Adults to promote Physical Activity and reduce Sedentary Behaviour using Co-production approaches: A Scoping Review. BMC Geriatrics
• ACCEPTED AWAITING PUBLICATION (JUNE) - Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of the Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity for Women after Gestational Diabetes: A socio-ecological approach. British Journal of Diabetes.

Conferences

• Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. Nov 15^th-16^th (2022) A systematic review using the socioecological model for physical activity interventions aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes. British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences abstracts, Journal of Sports Sciences, 40:sup1, 1-39, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766 (Leicester)
• Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. May 4-6^th (2023). “I’m doing all I can” wider Constraints to Physical Activity after Gestational Diabetes: a Socio-Ecological approach. The 11th International Symposium on Diabetes (DIP), Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome and Pregnancy: Innovative Approaches in Maternal Offspring Health. (Thessaloniki)
• Jordan D. Beaumont, Elysa Ioannou, Nicola Corrigan, Lucie Nield. (May 2023). “An evaluation of tier 2 weight management services I the Yorkshire and Humber region”. The European Association of the study of Obesity Conference 2023.
• Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. June 21^st- 22^nd (2023). “I know what I need to do, it’s just doing it” a Socio-Ecological analysis of Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity after Gestational Diabetes. Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference. (Liverpool John Moores University)
• Co-developing a sustainable, meaningful, digital, platform to enhance active ageing with community dwelling older adults (>75 years). British Society of Gerontology 52nd Annual Conference July 2023.
• Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. September 11-13^th (2023). Socio-ecological approach to Overcoming Barriers for Physical Activity Promotion after Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis. 12^th Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Conference (Lleuven, Belgium).  hepaeurope2023.org

Awards

BASES 2022 Annual Conference Award - Human Kinetics Student Free Communication Presentation Award. Listen in BASES Hall of Fame - https://www.bases.org.uk/sspage-awards___grants-awards-conference_awards_hall_of_fame.html

Invitations

IN PREP - One-page article to The Sport and Exercise Scientist based on the topic of BASES 2022 conference presentation - A systematic review using the socioecological model for physical activity interventions aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes.