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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Oct;13(5):356-368.
doi: 10.1089/chi.2017.0042. Epub 2017 May 30.

A Social Media Peer Group for Mothers To Prevent Obesity from Infancy: The Grow2Gether Randomized Trial

Alexander G Fiks  1   2 , Rachel S Gruver  1 , Chanelle T Bishop-Gilyard  3   4 , Justine Shults  5 , Senbagam Virudachalam  1   2 , Andrew W Suh  1 , Marsha Gerdes  1   3 , Gurpreet K Kalra  6 , Patricia A DeRusso  2   7 , Alexandra Lieberman  1 , Daniel Weng  1 , Michal A Elovitz  8 , Robert I Berkowitz  3   4   2 , Thomas J Power  3   2   9
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Social Media Peer Group for Mothers To Prevent Obesity from Infancy: The Grow2Gether Randomized Trial

Alexander G Fiks et al. Child Obes. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have addressed obesity prevention among low-income families whose infants are at increased obesity risk. We tested a Facebook peer-group intervention for low-income mothers to foster behaviors promoting healthy infant growth.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 87 pregnant women (Medicaid insured, BMI ≥25 kg/m2) were randomized to the Grow2Gether intervention or text message appointment reminders. Grow2Gether participants joined a private Facebook group of 9-13 women from 2 months before delivery until infant age 9 months. A psychologist facilitated groups featuring a curriculum of weekly videos addressing feeding, sleep, parenting, and maternal well-being. Feasibility was assessed using the frequency and content of participation, and acceptability using surveys. Maternal beliefs and behaviors and infant growth were assessed at birth, 2, 4, 6, and 9 months. Differences in infant growth between study arms were explored. We conducted intention-to-treat analyses using quasi-least-squares regression.

Results: Eighty-eight percent (75/85) of intervention participants (42% (36/85) food insecure, 88% (75/85) black) reported the group was helpful. Participants posted 30 times/group/week on average. At 9 months, the intervention group had significant improvement in feeding behaviors (Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire) compared to the control group (p = 0.01, effect size = 0.45). Intervention group mothers were significantly less likely to pressure infants to finish food and, at age 6 months, give cereal in the bottle. Differences were not observed for other outcomes, including maternal feeding beliefs or infant weight-for-length.

Conclusions: A social media peer-group intervention was engaging and significantly impacted certain feeding behaviors in families with infants at high risk of obesity.

Keywords: Internet; behavior change; infant; mHealth; prevention; social media.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

<b>Figure 1.</b>
Figure 1.
CONSORT diagram.
<b>Figure 2.</b>
Figure 2.
Participant-initiated conversation about breastfeeding. All comments are from participating mothers, not the facilitator. Participant information redacted.
<b>Figure 3.</b>
Figure 3.
Infant feeding behavior by month and treatment group.
<b>Figure 4.</b>
Figure 4.
Weight-for-length z-score by month and treatment group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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