Oral Presentation Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting

txt4two: An mHealth intervention promoting healthy weight gain in pregnancy (#109)

Jane C Willcox 1 , Karen J Campbell 1 , Elizabeth McCarthy 2 , Shelley A Wilkinson 3 , Martha Lappas 2 , Kylie Ball 1 , Brianna Fjeldsoe 4 , Robyn Whittaker 5 , Ralph Maddison 5 , David Crawford 1
  1. Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Vic, Australia
  3. Nutrition and Dietetics, Mater Women's Hospital/Mater Research, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
  4. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
  5. National Institute for Health Innovation, University of Auckland, Auckland, -, New Zealand

Introduction: Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with negative health outcomes for mother and child in pregnancy and throughout life. Mobile technologies (mHealth), offer low cost, ready access and individually tailored support.

Aim: This study investigated the feasibility of an mHealth intervention promoting healthy nutrition, physical activity (PA) and GWG in women who began pregnancy overweight or obese.

Method: txt4two was a pilot randomised controlled trial pilot in which 100 pregnant women were recruited from a Melbourne antenatal outpatient clinic with a singleton gestation between 10+0-17+6 weeks,  and pre-pregnancy body mass index (ppBMI)>25kg/m2. Women were randomised to the txt4two intervention (interactive text messages; videos; website; and chat forum) or control group (standard care).

Results: At recruitment, women completing the study (n=91) reported an average age of 32.5 (+ 3.4) years, a gestation of 15.5 (+2.0) weeks and a ppBMI of 31.0 kg/m2. Feasibility, the primary outcome, was demonstrated with delivery to protocol. Usage data indicated most women engaged regularly with the program, primarily with the text messages. The majority of women (97.6%) reported the intervention helpful. Secondary outcomes demonstrated a significantly lower GWG in the intervention group (7.8kg + 4.7 versus 9.7 kg + 3.9; p= 0.046) compared to the control group. Intervention women reported a significantly lower reduction in total daily metabolic equivalent of task minutes (-74.3 + 926.1 versus -462.8 + 751.8; p=0.003) compared to the control group with significant differences in light and moderate PA. No differences were detected in self-reported consumption frequencies of key food groups.

Conclusion: Results suggest that an intervention delivering healthy nutrition, PA and GWG utilising innovative technology can be feasibly implemented and produce positive PA and GWG outcomes. Findings will inform the development of larger-scale antenatal mHealth programs that could be widely translated and disseminated.