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
1-8-2018
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, Molly E.; Moore Simas, Tiffany A.; Oleski, Jessica L.; Xiao, Rui Sherry; Mulcahy, Julie A.; May, Christine N.; and Pagoto, Sherry L., "Feasibility and Acceptability of Delivering a Postpartum Weight Loss Intervention via Facebook: A Pilot Study" (2018). UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Supported Publications. 129.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/umccts_pubs/129