Snacktivity™ during pregnancy- SUNNY Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Randomised Controlled Trial to Investigate the Feasibility and Acceptability of Snacktivity™ in Pregnant Women.
IRAS ID
319236
Contact name
Amanda Daley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Loughborough University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
The World Health Organisation advise women to achieve at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week during pregnancy. Adherence to these guidelines is associated with a range of physical and psychological health benefits, such as a reduced risk of excessive gestational weight gain, improved sleep, increased likelihood of delivering an infant-sized appropriately for gestational age, reduced obstetric comorbidities, reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms. Despite these benefits, evidence shows that only 32% of pregnant women achieve the recommended guidelines for physical activity in early pregnancy, with this figure reducing to 12% during the third trimester.
The SUNNY study aims to recruit pregnant adult women to a physical activity intervention to investigate whether Snacktivity™ can promote physical activity adherence during pregnancy. Snacktivity™ is considered an alternative approach to physical activity promotion that has prospects of engaging and motivating pregnant women to become more active throughout the duration of their pregnancy and break up sedentary time. Through the promotion of small, frequent doses of regular moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) throughout the day, Snacktivity™ focuses on accumulating 150 mins MVPA through small changes in the day compared to larger changes of ~30mins per/day over five days: however, accumulating the same 150 mins MVPA weekly.
90 participants across England will be randomised to either the Snacktivity™ intervention or to a comparator group receiving usual physical activity advice provided by their healthcare professional. Participants will be randomised at 10-16 weeks pregnant with data being collected until 36 weeks pregnant. Data will be collected on various physical activity outcomes (e.g., total physical activity, steps per day and MVPA) psychometric measures (depression and fatigue) in addition to specific outcomes for the Snacktivity™ group and their use of the SUNNY SnackApp and their views of Snacktivity™
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0159
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion