Development and feasibility of a web-based gestational weight gain intervention for women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Excessive gestational weight gain is associated with negative maternal and infant health outcomes. Digital health approaches may help overcome barriers to participating in lifestyle interventions requiring in-person visits. The purpose of this study was to develop and examine the feasibility of a web-based gestational weight gain intervention.

METHODS: Intervention development included feedback and input from pregnant women. We conducted a 12-week one-arm pilot study during which participants engaged in an online discussion board with coaches and other pregnant women, tracked their weight gain with an interactive graph, and accessed a list of online resources for pregnancy health. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment, retention, engagement and sustained participation, intervention acceptability, and website usability. Gestational weight gain was an exploratory outcome.

RESULTS: Participants (n=12) were on average 16.8 [standard deviation (SD): 2.0] weeks gestation with average pre-pregnancy body mass index of 30.5 (SD: 4.8) kg/m

CONCLUSIONS: Additional development work is needed before moving to efficacy testing. Most notably, usability issues with the investigator-developed website and participant preference suggest a switch to a commercial social media platform.

Volume

9

First Page

13

Last Page

13

ISSN

2306-9740

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

37089268

Department(s)

Medical Education

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS