Feasibility, engagement and effectiveness of digital health interventions for postpartum weight management: a systematic review

Shahadan, Siti Zuhaidah and Yusof, Nurul Mutmainnah and Mohamad Ismail, Mohamad Firdaus (2026) Feasibility, engagement and effectiveness of digital health interventions for postpartum weight management: a systematic review. International Journal of Care Scholars, 9 (3). pp. 209-220. ISSN 2600-898X

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Abstract

Background: Postpartum weight retention contributes to long-term obesity and cardiometabolic risk. Digital health interventions have emerged as potential weight-management strategies. This review characterise digital postpartum weight-management interventions and synthesise evidence on feasibility, acceptability, engagement, user perceptions, weight-related outcomes, and cardiometabolic outcomes among postpartum women with overweight or obesity. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Scopus to identify articles evaluating digital or technology-supported interventions for postpartum weight management. Included articles involved postpartum women with overweight or obesity and reported outcomes related to feasibility, acceptability, engagement, user perceptions, weight-related outcomes, or cardiometabolic indicators. Methodological quality was appraised using design-appropriate Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Due to heterogeneity in study design and outcomes, the findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Seven articles were included: randomised and feasibility trials, a retrospective cohort study, and a qualitative study. Interventions included mobile applications, wearable-supported programmes, social media groups, telephone support, and blended-care approaches. Acceptability was generally favourable, whereas engagement varied across studies and intervention components. Weight-related findings were mixed, with some studies reporting favourable changes and others minimal or nonsignificant between-group differences. No study reported biochemical cardiometabolic outcomes. One feasibility trial reported blood pressure and waist circumference. Conclusion: Digital health interventions may be feasible and acceptable approaches to postpartum weight management, but their effectiveness remains uncertain due to a small, heterogeneous, and methodologically limited evidence base.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Postpartum period; Obesity; Weight loss; Telemedicine; Health behavior
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RT Nursing > RT82 Nursing As A Profession R Medicine > RT Nursing > RT89 Specialities in nursing > RT90 Teaching (Including nursing education and patient education)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Nursing Kulliyyah of Nursing > Department of Medical Surgical Nursing
Depositing User:	DR SITI ZUHAIDAH SHAHADAN
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2026 09:16
Last Update:	14 Sep 2026 09:16
Queue Number:	2026-09-Q5055
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131190
Indexed In:	Google Scholar, MyCite

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