Mobilizing mHealth for Moms: a Review of Mobile Apps for Tracking Gestational Weight Gain

Abstract

Almost one-half of all pregnant women in the USA exceed the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) weight gain guidelines. Mobile apps hold promise as a beneficial tool for facilitating healthy gestational weight gain (GWG). The aim of this study was to review mobile apps that focused on GWG tracking and evaluate their features for meeting the IOM weight gain guidelines and encouraging healthy nutrition and physical activity (PA). Trained research staff conducted a review of apps that focused on tracking GWG. The apps were assessed by two reviewers for eight consecutive days, using a profile of an overweight pregnant woman at 12–13 weeks gestation. The reviewers entered weights daily. The weekly rate of weight gain was set above 0.6 lbs per week, which exceeded IOM guidelines for healthy GWG for an overweight woman. Apps were independently scored based on presence of features and guidelines. Initially, 296 apps were screened for review. Among these apps, 209 did not meet inclusion criteria for the review. The final review included 87 apps. Overall, 73 (84%) apps had a weight tracking feature, 19 (22%) apps provided accurate weight gain guidelines, 8 (9%) apps included calorie (kcal) recommendations, and 7 (8%) apps included exercise guidelines. Overall, there is a paucity of apps for tracking GWG that use IOM guidelines and promote evidence-based healthy weight-related behaviors during pregnancy. Furthermore, this review demonstrates the importance of health care practitioners’ role in providing accurate information and behavioral support for achieving healthy weight in pregnancy.