eScholarship@UMMS

Title

Feasibility and Acceptability of Delivering a Postpartum Weight Loss Intervention via Facebook: A Pilot Study

Authors

Molly E. Waring, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Tiffany A. Moore Simas, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Jessica L. Oleski, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Rui Sherry Xiao, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Julie A. Mulcahy
Christine N. May, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Sherry L. Pagoto, University of Massachusetts Medical School

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

Link to Article in PubMed

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