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Association of prenatal physical activity and gestational weight gain: results from the first baby study
Jennifer L Kraschnewski1, Cynthia H Chuang, Danielle Symons Downs
1Department of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA. jkraschnewski@hmc.psu.edu
Insights
Engaging in recommended prenatal physical activity significantly lowers the risk of excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) for pregnant individuals. This finding highlights physical activity as a key strategy for healthy pregnancy weight management.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Public Health
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Rising rates of excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and associated long-term health risks prompted revised guidelines by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2009.
- While prenatal physical activity is advised, its impact on GWG remains under investigation.
- This study examines the relationship between physical activity levels during pregnancy and adherence to IOM GWG recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal physical activity and gestational weight gain (GWG).
- To determine if meeting physical activity guidelines reduces the likelihood of exceeding IOM GWG recommendations.
- To identify the prevalence of excessive GWG among different pre-pregnancy weight categories.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal cohort study involving 3,006 women.
- Data collected at 34 weeks gestation included self-reported height, pre-pregnancy weight, and physical activity levels.
- Gestational weight gain (GWG) was self-reported at 1-month postpartum.
- Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for key demographic and lifestyle factors was employed.
Main Results:
- Overweight and obese women exhibited the highest rates of exceeding IOM GWG recommendations (78.7% and 65.0%, respectively).
- A significant majority of women engaged in some physical activity, with 41.2% meeting 60-149 minutes and 32.1% meeting at least 150 minutes weekly.
- Adherence to physical activity guidelines was associated with a 29% lower odds of exceeding IOM GWG recommendations compared to inactive women.
Conclusions:
- High rates of excessive GWG, particularly in overweight and obese populations, are a significant public health concern.
- Guideline-concordant physical activity demonstrates a clear association with appropriate GWG.
- Promoting physical activity during pregnancy is a crucial target for future public health interventions to manage GWG.
Background:
In response to increasing rates of excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and evidence of postpartum weight retention and long-term overweight and obesity, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) revised their guidelines for GWG in 2009. Prenatal physical activity is recommended, although its role in preventing excessive GWG is unclear. We sought to understand the association between prenatal physical activity and GWG in a longitudinal cohort.
Methods:
During a baseline survey at 34 weeks, women (n = 3,006) reported their height, prepregnancy weight, and physical activity during pregnancy. GWG was self-reported at 1-month postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, poverty status, marital status, gestational age at the time of delivery, and smoking was used to model the association between adequate physical activity during pregnancy and exceeding the IOM recommendations for GWG.
Findings:
Overweight women were most likely to exceed the IOM recommendations for GWG (78.7%), followed by obese women and normal weight women (65.0% and 42.4%, respectively). The majority of women participated in some physical activity during pregnancy, with 41.2% engaging in 60 to 149 minutes and 32.1% engaging in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week. In adjusted analysis, meeting the physical activity guidelines was associated with a 29% (confidence interval, 0.57-0.88) lower odds of exceeding the IOM recommendations for GWG compared with inactive women.
Conclusions:
Findings of high rates of excessive GWG, especially among women with overweight and obesity, are concerning given the associated health burdens. The association of guideline-concordant physical activity with appropriate GWG suggests this is an important target for future interventions.
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