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Association between physical activity in obese pregnant women and offspring health
Louise Hayes1, Ruth Bell1, Steve Robson1
1Newcastle University, United Kingdom.
Insights
Physical activity during pregnancy impacts infant body composition. Increased maternal moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) near term is linked to smaller neonatal abdominal circumference, suggesting exercise benefits.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Maternal obesity during pregnancy is linked to adverse infant outcomes, including macrosomia and increased risk of childhood obesity and diabetes.
- Physical activity during pregnancy may influence maternal insulin sensitivity and infant body composition.
- Interventions promoting physical activity could improve maternal metabolic health and reduce offspring's long-term disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between physical activity and sedentary behavior during pregnancy and infant body composition.
- To evaluate the potential of physical activity interventions in improving pregnancy outcomes and offspring health.
Main Methods:
- The UPBEAT pilot study recruited 183 pregnant women.
- Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using accelerometers at multiple gestational points.
- Spearman partial correlations were used to analyze the relationship between maternal activity levels and infant body composition at birth.
Main Results:
- Maternal sedentary time showed mixed associations with neonatal abdominal circumference at different gestational stages.
- Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at 35-36 weeks gestation was inversely associated with neonatal abdominal circumference (r=-0.466, p=0.014).
- No significant associations were found between physical activity and birthweight.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with infant body composition.
- Maternal physical activity represents a viable target for interventions aimed at improving infant health outcomes.
- The findings support the UPBEAT trial's focus on physical activity and diet.
Background:
Obesity in pregnancy is associated with macrosomia, neontatal fat mass and increased obesity and diabetes in the offspring. Physical activity during pregnancy may mediate the relationship between maternal insulin action and infant body composition. Interventions to increase physical activity might therefore improve metabolic outcomes for pregnant women and reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes in their offspring. The UK Pregnancy Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT) is a complex intervention, designed to improve pregnancy outcome through dietary change and increased physical activity. The analysis presented here includes data from 183 women recruited to the pilot phase of UPBEAT.
Methods:
Physical activity was assessed by accelerometer at recruitment, at 27-28weeks' gestation and at 35-36weeks' gestation. The relationship between sedentary behaviour and moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and infant body composition at birth was examined using Spearman partial correlations.
Results:
Maternal sedentary time at recruitment was inversely associated with neonatal abdominal circumference (-0.333, p=0.016), but at 35-36ẃeeks' gestation was positively associated with neonatal abdominal circumference (0.435, p=0.023). Sedentary time was not associated with these outcomes at 27-28weeks' gestation. MVPA at 35-36weeks' gestation was inversely associated with neonatal abdominal circumference (-0.466, p=0.014). No associations between physical activity and birthweight were apparent.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that physical activity during pregnancy is associated with infant body composition and that maternal physical activity is an appropriate target for intervention to improve infant outcomes. UPBEAT is funded by NIHR-UK (RP-0407-10452).
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