Title
Feasibility and Acceptability of Delivering a Postpartum Weight Loss Intervention via Facebook: A Pilot Study
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Quantitative Health Sciences; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Publication Date
2018-01-08
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition | Health Communication | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Social Media | Telemedicine | Translational Medical Research | Women's Health
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a Facebook-delivered postpartum weight loss intervention.
METHODS: Overweight and obese postpartum women received a 12-week weight loss intervention via Facebook. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment, retention, engagement, and acceptability. Weight loss was an exploratory outcome.
RESULTS: Participants (n = 19) were 3.5 (SD 2.2) months postpartum with a baseline body mass index of 30.1 (SD 4.2) kg/m(2). Retention was 95%. Forty-two percent of participants visibly engaged on the last day of the intervention, and 100% in the last 4 weeks; 88% were likely or very likely to participate again and 82% were likely or very likely to recommend the program to a postpartum friend. Average 12-week weight loss was 4.8% (SD 4.2%); 58% lost > /=5%.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings suggested that this Facebook-delivered intervention is feasible and acceptable and supports research to test efficacy for weight loss. Research is needed to determine how best to engage participants in social network-delivered weight loss interventions.
Keywords
UMCCTS funding, postpartum, weight loss, social media, pilot study
DOI of Published Version
10.1016/j.jneb.2017.09.025
Source
J Nutr Educ Behav. 2018 Jan;50(1):70-74.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2017.09.025. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Journal of nutrition education and behavior
Related Resources
PubMed ID
29325665
Repository Citation
Waring ME, Moore Simas TA, Oleski JL, Xiao R, Mulcahy JA, May CN, Pagoto SL. (2018). Feasibility and Acceptability of Delivering a Postpartum Weight Loss Intervention via Facebook: A Pilot Study. UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Supported Publications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2017.09.025. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/umccts_pubs/129