Evidence mapPaperPMID 42265507Full record

SynthesisCurrent obesity reports2026

Effectiveness of Digital Tools on Lifestyle & Health-Related Outcomes Across the Full Continuum of the Maternal Journey: A Systematic Review.

Dimitra P Sigala, Priyanka Chaudhary, Theresa H Schroder, Zoë van der Heijden, Myriam C Afeiche, Amanda E Staiano, Maria F Vasiloglou

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current obesity reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Dimitra P SigalaNestlé Institute of Health Science, Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Priyanka ChaudharyPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, United States of America.
Theresa H SchroderNestlé Institute of Health Science, Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Zoë van der HeijdenDivision of Human Nutrition & Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.
Myriam C AfeicheNestlé Institute of Health Science, Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Amanda E StaianoPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, United States of America.
Maria F VasiloglouNestlé Institute of Health Science, Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland. maria.vasiloglou@rd.nestle.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMaternal health is a global public health priority and a key determinant of generational and societal well-being. Healthy lifestyle behaviors from preconception through postpartum can be promoted by mobile applications, telehealth and chatbots, but evidence on their effectiveness remains limited despite their growing acceptance and use.

objectivesTo assess the effectiveness of digital tools targeting lifestyle and health-related outcomes across the maternal journey.

methodsFollowing the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL from January 2020 to May 2025. Eligible studies involved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with digital components targeting nutrition, physical activity, sleep, smoking, and/or alcohol consumption among women during preconception, pregnancy, or up to six months postpartum. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB2 tool (PROSPERO: CRD420251075108).

resultsThirty-one RCTs (n = 7,153 women) were included, conducted during preconception (n = 3), pregnancy (n = 20), and postpartum (n = 15). Across interventions, reminders (64.5%), self-monitoring (58.1%), and goal-setting (48.4%) were the most commonly used behavior change features. Digital interventions showed beneficial effects related to nutrition (e.g., improved dietary intake, micronutrient supplementation), physical activity, sleep quality, and insomnia during pregnancy. Among women with overweight/obesity who used digital tools, consistent reductions in gestational weight gain were observed. In contrast, preconception and postpartum interventions demonstrated only modest or inconsistent effects, particularly for anthropometrics and metabolic outcomes. Surprisingly, very few studies reported engagement or usage statistics.

conclusionsDigital health tools may improve lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy, but evidence for sustained preconception or postpartum benefits remains limited. The heterogeneity in study design and high risk of bias drive the need for long-term RCTs with standardized measures and engagement metrics to optimize digital strategies for maternal health promotion.

Indexed as

Health PromotionHealthy LifestyleLife StyleMaternal HealthDigital HealthExerciseFemaleHealth BehaviorHumansMobile ApplicationsPostpartum PeriodPreconception CarePregnancyRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTelemedicineDigital healthLifestyleMaternal healthmHealthPostpartumPreconceptionPregnancySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42265507
PMCPMC13249648

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.