Preventing Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Via Short Mobile Messages in WIC

Preventing Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Via Short Mobile Messages in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of educational short message service (SMS), or text messages, on gestational weight gain (GWG) in a low-income population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 15-20 weeks gestational age and 18 years of age or older at time of recruitment
• body mass index (BMI) of 25-45 kg/m2 in the first trimester
• possession of a cellular phone with the ability to receive text messages without a charge

Exclusion Criteria:

• conditions requiring a special diet
• multiparous pregnancies
• unable to consent to participate
• unwilling to be randomized