Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy
Published on: April 5, 2024
Associations between Prenatal Physical Activity and Neonatal and Obstetric Outcomes-A Secondary Analysis of the
Julia Hoffmann1, Julia Günther2, Kristina Geyer3
1Else Kröner-Fresenius-Centre for Nutritional Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Georg-Brauchle-Ring 62, 80992 Munich, Germany. julia.hoffmann@tum.de.
Insights
Prenatal physical activity (PA) adherence is linked to improved birth weight and reduced low birth weight risk. However, light-intensity activity may slightly increase caesarean section odds.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Prenatal physical activity (PA) is hypothesized to reduce obstetric and neonatal complications.
- Understanding the specific associations between PA levels and outcomes is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between prenatal physical activity and obstetric and neonatal outcomes within the GeliS trial cohort.
- To examine the impact of different intensities and timings of PA on birth weight, anthropometric parameters, and delivery mode.
Main Methods:
- Secondary cohort analysis of the cluster-randomized GeliS trial.
- Physical activity assessed using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire at two time points (T0 and T1).
- Obstetric and neonatal data collected from routine care for 1994 participants.
Main Results:
- Adherence to PA recommendations at T1 was associated with significant differences in birth weight compared to inactive women.
- Sedentary behavior showed an inverse association with birth weight and increased odds of low birth weight at both time points.
- Light-intensity PA at T0 was marginally linked to increased odds of caesarean section, but moderate-to-vigorous PA did not affect caesarean delivery risk.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal physical activity demonstrates associations with specific neonatal and obstetric outcomes.
- Sedentary behavior during pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse birth weight outcomes.
- Further research may clarify the nuanced relationship between different PA intensities and obstetric interventions.
Abstract:
Prenatal physical activity (PA) was discussed to decrease the incidence of obstetric and neonatal complications. In this secondary cohort analysis of the cluster-randomized GeliS ("healthy living in pregnancy") trial, associations between prenatal PA and such outcomes were investigated. PA behavior was assessed twice, before or during the 12th week (baseline, T0) and after the 29th week of gestation (T1), using the self-reported Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Obstetric and neonatal data were collected in the routine care setting. Data were available for 87.2% (n = 1994/2286) of participants. Significant differences between the offspring of women who adhered to PA recommendations at T1 and offspring of inactive women were found in birth weight (p = 0.030) but not in other anthropometric parameters. Sedentary behavior was inversely associated with birth weight at T1 (p = 0.026) and, at both time points, with an increase in the odds of low birth weight (T0: p = 0.004, T1: p = 0.005). Light-intensity PA at T0 marginally increased the odds of caesarean section (p = 0.032), but neither moderate-intensity nor vigorous-intensity activity modified the risk for caesarean delivery at any time point. The present analyses demonstrated associations between prenatal PA and some neonatal and obstetric outcomes.
