Wearable-Supported Exercise to Reduce Postpartum Weight

KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Weight Change

Treatments: Device: Actigraphy watch intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07153081

CIRB: Ref No.: 2017/3015

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of walking exercise in postpartum women and to evaluate the weight management intervention by using step tracker. The following hypotheses will be tested:

1. The intervention in postpartum women would reduce the retention of weight gained during pregnancy and lower the risk factors of chronic disease.
2. Step tracker is an effective tool in encouraging the postpartum women to do more physical activity.
3. Higher physical activity is recommended for postpartum women for healthy weight lost.

Full description

Postpartum is an important phase in the reproductive years of women. Weight retention after childbirth can lead to chronic diseases (CD), including obesity, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic related diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure. There are some studies suggesting that pedometer is useful to encourage women in increasing their physical activity.

We propose to evaluate the effects of physical activity intervention based on wearable steps tracker and optimal weight loss for postpartum women. It will be a pilot stratified randomized intervention study on 200 postpartum women at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. Women who are above 21 years old and had given birth between 6 weeks and 6 months before will be recruited under the study. Postpartum women who physically fit to participate in moderate intensity walking are eligible to participate in the study. Women who participated in other weight management or physical activity intervention projects will be excluded from the study. Study enrolment will be done at the Specialist Outpatient Clinics for postnatal check-ups.

This was 12-16 weeks randomized, single-center, unblinded intervention study (Figure 1). Participants were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group (Actigraphy watch) or the control group (no Actigraphy watch). All participants received the standard routine postpartum care, physical activity counselling with advice on walking and motivational messages. Randomization was done using sealed envelopes. Eligible participants had baseline measurements taken during the study enrolment and consent taking where anthropometric measurements, and blood samples were collected and various questionnaires were filled out to assess baseline demographics and lifestyle characteristics.

All the participants in the intervention group received an Actigraphy watch to wear all the time except for swimming and showering. Walking advises and motivational text messages will be sent to the study participants by the research team.

Data will be collected through questionnaires and clinical measurements. The questionnaires include socio-economic factors, and self-reported physical activity. Bio-physical measurements will be obtained from anthropometric measurements of participants, are collected from the participants at their follow-up time points. Objective physical activity will be collected using an Actigraphy watch.

Enrollment: 49 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Above 21 years old
2. Viable singleton pregnancies
3. Physically fit to participate in moderate intensity walking.
4. Term pregnancy without any sever pregnancy complications. -

Exclusion criteria

• 1. Blood-borne disease patients (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B & C) 2. Participated in other weight management or physical activity intervention projects.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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49 participants in 2 patient groups

Actigraphy watch intervention

Experimental group

Description:

All the participants in the intervention group received an Actigraphy watch to wear all the time except for swimming and showering. Walking advises and motivational text messages will be sent to the study participants by the research team.

Treatment:

Device: Actigraphy watch intervention

Standard care group

No Intervention group

Description:

Walking advises and motivational text messages will be sent to the study participants by the research team.