eMoms: Electronically-mediated weight interventions for pregnant and postpartum women. Study design and baseline characteristics

Abstract

Background: The influence of childbearing in the development of obesity is situated within two different but related contexts: pregnancy-related weight gain and weight gain prevention and control in young adult women. Pregnancy related weight gain contributes to long-term weight retention in childbearing women.

Objective: To present the study design, data collection procedures, recruitment challenges, and the baseline characteristics for the eMoms of Rochester study, a randomized clinical trial testing the effect of electronically-mediated behavioral interventions to prevent excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight retention among women aged 18-35 years of diverse income and racial/ethnic backgrounds in an urban setting.

Design: Randomized double blind clinical trial. A total of 1722 women at or below 20 weeks of gestation were recruited primarily from obstetric practices and randomized to 3 treatment groups: control arm; intervention arm with access to intervention during pregnancy and control at postpartum (e-intervention 1); and intervention arm with access to intervention during pregnancy and postpartum (e-intervention 2). Enrollment and consent were completed via study staff or online. Data were collected via online surveys, medical charts, and measurement of postpartum weights. The primary endpoints are gaining more weight than recommended by the Institution of Medicine guidelines and weight retained at 12 months postpartum.

Conclusion: This study will provide evidence on the efficacy of behavioral interventions in the prevention of excessive GWG and postpartum weight retention with potential dissemination to obstetric practices and/or health insurances. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01331564.

Keywords: Gestational weight gain; Internet; Maternal weight; Postpartum weight retention; Pregnancy weight; Randomized clinical trial.