title: Preventing excessive gestational weight gain among African American women: A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence is lacking regarding effective weight control treatments in pregnancy for ethnic minority women with obesity. This study evaluated whether a technology-based behavioral intervention could decrease the proportion of African American women with overweight or obesity who exceeded Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines for gestational weight gain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a two-arm pilot randomized clinical trial. Participants were 66 socioeconomically disadvantaged African American pregnant women (12.5 ± 3.7 weeks' gestation; 36% overweight, 64% obesity) recruited from two outpatient obstetric practices at Temple University between 2013 and 2014. We randomized participants to usual care (n = 33) or a behavioral intervention (n = 33) that promoted weight control in pregnancy. The intervention included: (1) empirically supported behavior change goals; (2) interactive self-monitoring text messages; (3) biweekly health coach calls; and (4) skills training and support through Facebook.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention reduced the proportion of women who exceeded IOM guidelines compared to usual care (37% vs. 66%, P = 0.033). Intervention participants gained less weight during pregnancy (8.7 vs. 12.3 kg, adjusted mean difference: -3.1 kg, 95% CI: -6.2 to -0.1). No group differences in neonatal or obstetric outcomes were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention resulted in lower prevalence of excessive gestational weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.|Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.|College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Herring
authors.affiliation: Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Jane F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cruice
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.|Duke Obesity Prevention Program, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Gary G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Marisa Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.affiliation: Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.|Weight Watchers International, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult