JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital lifestyle interventions show promise in supporting healthy gestational weight gain during pregnancy, yet evidence regarding their effectiveness remains mixed.

Objective:

This scoping review examined literature on digital lifestyle interventions in the past decade to investigate their effectiveness in supporting healthy GWG and identify key components contributing to successful outcomes.

Methods:

We searched 4 electronic databases, followed-up on research protocols and hand-searched reference lists of eligible articles. We included primary and secondary data articles from peer-reviewed sources, excluding those focusing on women with pregnancy conditions. The data were analyzed descriptively and narratively, focusing on overall effectiveness and identifying elements that potentially contribute to that effectiveness, such as underlying theories, intervention duration, delivery modes, and behavior change techniques employed.

Results:

Analysis of 44 relevant articles (24 primary data articles, of which 10 pilot studies, and 20 secondary data articles) revealed that 9 primary data studies and 7 meta-analyses reported significant positive effects on healthy gestational weight, while 8 pilot studies indicated positive trends. Digital-mixed delivery interventions, combining digital and in-person components, showed greater effectiveness than digital-only approaches. Five behavior change techniques emerged as potentially crucial for intervention success: Goal setting (outcome), Discrepancy between current behavior and goal, Self-monitoring of behavior, Social support (unspecified), and Credible source. Theoretical foundations, intervention timing and intervention duration did not significantly impact effectiveness.

Conclusions:

This scoping review confirms that digital lifestyle interventions hold promise for promoting healthy gestational weight gain, particularly when combining digital and in-person components with specific behavior change techniques. While these interventions demonstrate modest but consistent effects on weight management, healthy lifestyle practices can generate positive effects that extend well beyond pregnancy. Further research is needed to substantiate these findings and explore the potential of digital lifestyle interventions in diverse populations and settings, with particular attention to standardizing intervention reporting and evaluating effectiveness in healthcare desert communities.