E-HEALTH

Health app may motivate to maintain physical activity during pregnancy

Overweight, unbalanced diet and low physical activity levels in mother may lead to increased risks for pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes. Pregnancy has been considered a window for opportunity for promoting healthy lifestyle changes. However, implementing lifestyle changes is often difficult as it requires substantial commitment and motivation. Smartphone health apps are promising tools for supporting health-promoting lifestyle during pregnancy. Although a variety of health apps are available for consumers, there has been only little research studying their benefits for the users.

In this study, we investigated the effects of health app use on the change in gestational weight, diet quality and physical activity. We also studied whether the addition of evidence-based information in the health app had effects on the lifestyle habits. Furthermore, we assessed the health app use among pregnant women and factors related to the health app use. Overall, 1038 pregnant women participated in the study. (Koivuniemi et al. 2022b)

The participants were provided with a health app in which they were asked to record their lifestyle habits, such as diet, physical activity and weight, during pregnancy. Half of the participants received weekly tips, e.g. evidence-based information regarding healthy lifestyle habits and health during pregnancy. Weight, diet quality and physical activity were assessed in early and late pregnancy with online questionnaires. Additionally, background factors, such as weight, smoking habits and education level, were assessed.

We found that frequent app users (used the app for at least 4.7 weeks) were married, primipara and non-smokers more likely than app non-users. Frequent app users also had more likely higher education level, underweight or normal weight and better diet quality.

No benefits of the additional evidence-based health information through the app were shown on the lifestyle habits. Nevertheless, those frequent app users who also got additional health information had a higher physical activity level in late pregnancy compared to those frequent app users who did not get additional health information. The results also showed that frequent health app use alone, with or without the additional health information, might motivate pregnant women to maintain their physical activity level throughout their pregnancy. However, no effects on the diet quality and gestational weight gain were shown.

Therefore, using the health app might motivate pregnant women to maintain their physical activity level, especially in frequent app users. The result is of interest as maintaining physical activity during pregnancy has been linked with a lower risk of pregnancy complications.

However, more research is needed on the topic as e.g. the use of the health app varied greatly between the participants and the additional health information were not personalized which might have affected the results. Moreover, the study was conducted as an online study without face-to-face contact to the researchers. Benefits of the health app during pregnancy might be greater if the use of the app would be combined with a personal counselling, such as dietary counselling, provided by an expert.