Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015:2015:814830.
doi: 10.1155/2015/814830. Epub 2015 Apr 16.

Maternal Obesity Management Using Mobile Technology: A Feasibility Study to Evaluate a Text Messaging Based Complex Intervention during Pregnancy

Hora Soltani  1 , Alexandra M S Duxbury  1 , Madelynne A Arden  2 , Andy Dearden  3 , Penny J Furness  2 , Carolyn Garland  4
Affiliations

Maternal Obesity Management Using Mobile Technology: A Feasibility Study to Evaluate a Text Messaging Based Complex Intervention during Pregnancy

Hora Soltani et al. J Obes. 2015.

Abstract

Background: Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are on the rise with negative impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Research into managing GWG using accessible technology is limited. The maternal obesity management using mobile technology (MOMTech) study aimed at evaluating the feasibility of text messaging based complex intervention designed to support obese women (BMI ≥ 30) with healthier lifestyles and limit GWG.

Methods: Participants received two daily text messages, supported by four appointments with healthy lifestyle midwife, diet and activity goal setting, and self-monitoring diaries. The comparison group were obese mothers who declined to participate but consented for their routinely collected data to be used for comparison. Postnatal interviews and focus groups with participants and the comparison group explored the intervention's acceptability and suggested improvements.

Results: Fourteen women completed the study which did not allow statistical analyses. However, participants had lower mean GWG than the comparison group (6.65 kg versus 9.74 kg) and few (28% versus 50%) exceeded the Institute of Medicine's upper limit of 9 kg GWG for obese women.

Conclusions: MOMTech was feasible within clinical setting and acceptable intervention to support women to limit GWG. Before further trials, slight modifications are planned to recruitment, text messages, and the logistics of consultation visits.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant recruitment summary.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. McPherson K., Marsh T., Brown M., Britain G. Tackling Obesities: Future Choices: Modelling Future Trends in Obesity and the Impact on Health. Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills; 2007.
    1. Morgan K. L., Rahman M. A., Macey S., et al. Obesity in pregnancy: a retrospective prevalence-based study on health service utilisation and costs on the NHS. BMJ Open. 2014;4(2) doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003983.e003983 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lewis G., Maternal C. E. Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing Maternal Deaths to Make Motherhood Safer—2003–2005: The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. CEMACH; 2007.
    1. Watkins M. L., Rasmussen S. A., Honein M. A., Botto L. D., Moore C. A. Maternal obesity and risk for birth defects. Pediatrics. 2003;111(5, part 2):1152–1158. - PubMed
    1. Sebire N. J., Jolly M., Harris J. P., et al. Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome: a study of 287 213 pregnancies in London. International Journal of Obesity. 2001;25(8):1175–1182. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801670. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources