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Characterising the use, users and effects of a health app supporting lifestyle changes in pregnant women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2022

Ella Koivuniemi Open the ORCID record for Ella Koivuniemi [Opens in a new window] ,
Monique M. Raats Open the ORCID record for Monique M. Raats [Opens in a new window] ,
Helena Ollila Open the ORCID record for Helena Ollila [Opens in a new window] ,
Eliisa Löyttyniemi Open the ORCID record for Eliisa Löyttyniemi [Opens in a new window]  and
Kirsi Laitinen Open the ORCID record for Kirsi Laitinen [Opens in a new window]
Ella Koivuniemi*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biomedicine, Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, 20520, Finland
Monique M. Raats
Affiliation:
Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health (FCBH) Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
Helena Ollila
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Centre, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Eliisa Löyttyniemi
Affiliation:
Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Kirsi Laitinen
Affiliation:
Institute of Biomedicine, Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, 20520, Finland Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
*
*Corresponding author: E. Koivuniemi, email elmkoi@utu.fi
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Abstract

The study objective was to (1) compare, through a randomised pilot intervention study, the effects of a standard health app and an enhanced health app, with evidence-based information regarding healthy lifestyle, on gestational weight gain, diet quality and physical activity in pregnant women. The sub-objectives were to (2) characterise app use and users among pregnant women and to (3) compare, in the overall sample regardless of the intervention, whether the frequency of the health app use has an effect on the change in gestational weight, diet quality and physical activity. Women recruited through social media announcements (n 1038) were asked to record their lifestyle habits in the app from early pregnancy to delivery. Self-reported weight, diet quality and physical activity were assessed in early and late pregnancy with validated online questionnaires. No benefits of the enhanced app use were shown on the lifestyle habits. Nevertheless, frequent app users (use ≥ 4·7 weeks) in the enhanced app group had a higher physical activity level in late pregnancy compared with those in the standard app group. Overall, extensive variation was found in the number of recordings (median 59, interquartile range 19–294) and duration of app use (median 4·7, interquartile range 1·1–15·6 weeks). Frequent app users had higher education level, underweight/normal weight, better diet quality and were non-smokers, married and primipara more likely than occasional app users/non-users. Physical activity among app users decreased less compared with non-users over the pregnancy course, indicating that app use could motivate to maintain physical activity during pregnancy.

Keywords

GestationSmartphoneGestational weightDiet qualityPhysical activity
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 130 , Issue 3 , 14 August 2023 , pp. 433 - 445
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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