A lot changed for Teeah Mccall after she gave birth to her daughter Kristina. Not only did she find herself with a new set of responsibilities as a parent, but she also had to adjust to her post-pregnancy body, which included a few extra pounds.

According to a research study by the Center for Obesity Research (CORE) in the College of Public Health, Mccall is not alone. The childbearing period is a critical life stage for weight gain and the development of cardiometabolic disease, especially for the nearly three-quarters of African American women who enter pregnancy already overweight or obese.

In an effort to address this issue, researchers in CORE developed a postpartum pilot program called Healthy4Baby, which uses low-cost technology such as text messaging and social media to encourage new mothers to take action aimed at helping them lose weight.