Effect of Group Counseling based on Theory of Planned Behavior on Health Promotion Lifestyle in Mothers with Overweight and Obesity during Postpartum Period: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

What was studied

This study looked at mothers with overweight or obesity after giving birth. It tested whether group counseling could help them live a healthier life. The counseling was built on a theory about how plans shape behavior. It was a randomised trial with 104 mothers in Urmia, Iran. One group got the sessions through WhatsApp for some weeks. The other group got routine care. Lifestyle was scored by survey before the sessions, at one month, and later.

What they found

The mothers were 27.06 years old on average. In the WhatsApp group, lifestyle scores rose by one month after the sessions. The total score went up. So did the sub-scores, except food habits and spiritual growth. These gains were still seen at the last check. Food habits got better later, by the last check. Spiritual growth also rose, but only between one month and the last check.

What it means for patients

The authors say the WhatsApp program helped these mothers take up healthier habits. They say it shows that phone programs built on a theory can be used. This was for women with overweight or obesity in the time after birth.

Why it is not certain yet

The abstract mainly reports changes within the counseling group. It does not clearly give how the end scores compared with the routine care group. Lifestyle was measured with a survey the mothers filled in. The abstract reports lifestyle scores, not weight or health problems. The last check was only a few months after the sessions ended. So it is not known if the changes last longer.

Source

Effect of Group Counseling based on Theory of Planned Behavior on Health Promotion Lifestyle in Mothers with Overweight and Obesity during Postpartum Period: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

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