Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of educational short message service (SMS), or text messages, on excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) in a low-income, predominantly overweight/obese population. Methods: Participants (<i>n</i> = 83) were mostly ove...

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Main Authors: Hannah Holmes, Cristina Palacios, YanYan Wu, Jinan Banna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1428
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author Hannah Holmes
Cristina Palacios
YanYan Wu
Jinan Banna
author_facet Hannah Holmes
Cristina Palacios
YanYan Wu
Jinan Banna
author_sort Hannah Holmes
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of educational short message service (SMS), or text messages, on excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) in a low-income, predominantly overweight/obese population. Methods: Participants (<i>n</i> = 83) were mostly overweight/obese women recruited at Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i at 15–20 weeks gestational age. The intervention group received SMS on nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy designed to help them meet Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines for GWG and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines for exercise, respectively. The control group received SMS about general health topics during pregnancy, excluding nutrition and physical activity. Both groups received one text message per week for eighteen weeks. GWG was defined as the difference between the last self-reported weight taken before delivery and participants’ self-reported weight before pregnancy. Differences between study groups were examined using t-tests and Chi-square tests. Linear regression models were used to examine association of GWG with study group and other factors. Results: GWG was similar (<i>p</i> = 0.58) in the control group (14.1 ± 11.4 kg) and the intervention group (15.5 ± 11.6 kg). The percentage of participants exceeding IOM guidelines for GWG was similar (<i>p</i> = 0.51) in the control group (50.0%, <i>n</i> = 17) and the intervention group (60.5%, <i>n</i> = 23). Conclusions: GWG was not significantly different between intervention and control groups. Trials that begin earlier in pregnancy or before pregnancy with longer intervention durations and varying message frequency as well as personalized or interactive messages may be needed to produce significant improvements.
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spelling doaj.art-743ce5b7245e4447bf723d32e9978d9c2023-11-20T00:32:31ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-05-01125142810.3390/nu12051428Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled TrialHannah Holmes0Cristina Palacios1YanYan Wu2Jinan Banna3Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USADepartment of Dietetics and Nutrition, Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USAOffice of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USADepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USAObjectives: The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of educational short message service (SMS), or text messages, on excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) in a low-income, predominantly overweight/obese population. Methods: Participants (<i>n</i> = 83) were mostly overweight/obese women recruited at Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i at 15–20 weeks gestational age. The intervention group received SMS on nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy designed to help them meet Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines for GWG and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines for exercise, respectively. The control group received SMS about general health topics during pregnancy, excluding nutrition and physical activity. Both groups received one text message per week for eighteen weeks. GWG was defined as the difference between the last self-reported weight taken before delivery and participants’ self-reported weight before pregnancy. Differences between study groups were examined using t-tests and Chi-square tests. Linear regression models were used to examine association of GWG with study group and other factors. Results: GWG was similar (<i>p</i> = 0.58) in the control group (14.1 ± 11.4 kg) and the intervention group (15.5 ± 11.6 kg). The percentage of participants exceeding IOM guidelines for GWG was similar (<i>p</i> = 0.51) in the control group (50.0%, <i>n</i> = 17) and the intervention group (60.5%, <i>n</i> = 23). Conclusions: GWG was not significantly different between intervention and control groups. Trials that begin earlier in pregnancy or before pregnancy with longer intervention durations and varying message frequency as well as personalized or interactive messages may be needed to produce significant improvements.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1428pregnancytext messagenutrition interventiontechnologytelehealth
spellingShingle Hannah Holmes
Cristina Palacios
YanYan Wu
Jinan Banna
Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Nutrients
pregnancy
text message
nutrition intervention
technology
telehealth
title Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Effect of a Short Message Service Intervention on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort effect of a short message service intervention on excessive gestational weight gain in a low income population a randomized controlled trial
topic pregnancy
text message
nutrition intervention
technology
telehealth
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1428
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