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Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy
Published on: April 5, 2024
Physical activity during pregnancy and offspring characteristics at 8-10 years
J M Pivarnik1, L M Mudd, E E White
1Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA - jimpiv@msu.edu.
Aim:
We evaluated relationships between mothers' physical activity (PA) during pregnancy and child blood pressure, aerobic fitness, and birth weight.
Methods:
Anthropometrics, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, and aerobic fitness were measured on 20 mother/child pairs, 8-10 years postpartum. Pregnancy PA (kJ/kg.wk) was calculated from historical recall. Women were classified as meeting, or not meeting ACOG PA recommendations.
Results:
Twelve women met ACOG recommendations, and their children had significantly lower birth weights (3.51±0.45 kg) than the more sedentary women (4.05±0.67 kg). Third trimester maternal PA was inversely related to child SBP (rs=-0.46, P=0.04) but not aerobic fitness. Birth weight was inversely related to SBP (rs=-0.75, P=0.03) if mothers did not meet PA recommendations.
Conclusion:
Results from our preliminary study suggest that maternal PA is associated with an alteration in the relationship between birth weight and SBP.
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