2022 Volume 80 Issue 3 Pages 210-217
Objective: Due to the prolonged social restrictions implemented during the novel COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to develop effective dietary intervention methods for pregnant/postpartum women without meeting in-person. We conducted a literature review on online dietary intervention studies on pregnant/postpartum women.
Methods: We searched the literature on PubMed using the keywords "pregnancy" [MeSH] AND ("internet-based intervention" [MAJR] OR "web-based intervention" OR "online intervention") AND diet.
Results: Applying our inclusion criteria, we selected four studies. Study subjects were healthy pregnant women with a single fetus, or women with a history of gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced hypertension. The intervention period differed according to the outcomes measured in each study. In a study that aimed to suppress excess pregnancy weight gain, the intervention period was early to mid-pregnancy, and in another study that aimed to decrease postpartum weight retention, the period was late pregnancy to postpartum. The contents of the intervention program consisted of individualized online education programs to promote healthy habits, educational material from public agencies, and interactions with other participants. In an online intervention study, decreased postpartum weight and waist circumference, as well as improved self-efficacy, were observed.
Conclusions: Online dietary interventions may be effective in improving maternal outcomes. Further accumulation of evidence for online tools that are accurate and easy to understand, as well as their effectiveness, may be needed in the future.
