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Updated: May 25, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy
05:17

Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy

Published on: April 5, 2024

673

From Pregnancy to Breastfeeding: The Role of Maternal Exercise in Preventing Childhood Obesity

Valeria Calcaterra1,2, Hellas Cena3,4, Agnese Pirazzi5

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.

Nutrients
|February 26, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Promoting physical activity (PA) during pregnancy and breastfeeding is crucial for preventing childhood obesity. Maternal exercise supports healthy fetal development, maternal weight, and breastfeeding, benefiting both mother and child.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Low adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy and lactation is linked to increased childhood obesity risk.
  • Pregnancy and postpartum are critical periods for interventions impacting maternal and child health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of physical activity (PA) during pregnancy and breastfeeding in preventing childhood obesity.
  • To explore mechanisms linking maternal PA to reduced childhood obesity risk.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a narrative review.
  • It synthesizes existing literature on physical activity during pregnancy and lactation and its impact on childhood obesity.

Main Results:

  • Maternal exercise during pregnancy and breastfeeding reduces childhood obesity risk.
  • Mechanisms include enhanced fetal metabolism, improved maternal weight management, and better breastfeeding practices.

Conclusions:

  • Encouraging physical activity during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a vital public health strategy.
  • Healthcare professionals are key in supporting mothers to adopt active lifestyles.
  • This approach yields extensive benefits for individual health and community well-being.

Keywords:
breastfeedingchildhood obesitychildrenexercisematernalpediatricsphysical activitypregnancy

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