scholarly journals Physical activity during pregnancy and association with changes in fat mass and adipokines in women of normal-weight or with obesity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrika Andersson-Hall ◽  
Hanna de Maré ◽  
Freja Askeli ◽  
Mats Börjesson ◽  
Agneta Holmäng
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Leptin Resistance ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Gestational Weight

AbstractAdipose tissue and adipokine concentrations change markedly during pregnancy, but the effects of physical activity on these changes are rarely studied. We aimed to assess physical activity levels in pregnant women of normal-weight (NW) or with obesity (OB), and to determine the relation with changes in fat mass and adipokines. In each trimester, pregnant women (136 NW, 51 OB) were interviewed about their physical activity and had their body composition, leptin, soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R) and adiponectin determined. NW reported higher activity and more aerobic exercise than OB during early pregnancy. Both groups maintained training frequency but reduced overall activity as pregnancy progressed. NW women reporting aerobic and/or resistance exercise and OB women reporting aerobic exercise had greater sOB-R increases (independent of BMI or gestational weight gain). In NW, exercise also associated with lower fat mass and leptin increases. Higher activity levels associated with lower gestational weight gain in both groups. The relationship between physical activity and adiponectin differed between NW and OB. Maternal exercise may partly mediate its beneficial effects through regulation of leptin bioavailability, by enhancing pregnancy-induced increases in sOB-R. This could be of particular importance in OB with pre-gestational hyperleptinemia and leptin resistance.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions on Pregnancy-Related Outcomes among Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen W. H. Chan ◽  
Elce Au Yeung ◽  
Bernard M. H. Law
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health

Regular physical activity has been demonstrated to contribute to physical and psychological health. Nevertheless, pregnant women generally exhibit low levels of physical activity. Implementation of interventions that enhance the self-efficacy of pregnant women on increasing physical activity is required. This paper provides an in-depth review of studies reporting the effect of various physical activity interventions dedicated for pregnant women on pregnancy-related issues, including gestational weight gain, pain and depression, physical activity level, and quality of life among these individuals. Five databases were used in searching the literature. Findings of the included studies were presented narratively, and appraisal of their methodological quality was conducted using the quality assessment tool developed by Effective Public Health Practice Project. Review findings demonstrated that physical activity interventions are effective in enhancing physical activity levels of pregnant women. Further, they are potentially useful in alleviating pregnancy-related pain and psychological symptoms, reducing gestational weight gain, and increasing self-efficacy in enhancing physical activity levels among these individuals. Nevertheless, inconsistencies in findings between studies hamper the drawing of firm conclusions on these latter outcomes. Overall, studies demonstrated a positive effect of physical activity interventions on the well-being and physical and psychological health of pregnant women.

scholarly journals Optimization of women’s physical activity during pregnancy to prevent excessive gestational weight gain

2020 ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
S.O. Ostafiichuk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Main Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Gestational Weight

The objective: to study the effect of physical activity (PA) during pregnancy on the level of gestational weight gain (GWG) in women with different prepregnancy weight. Materials and methods. 219 pregnant women were enrolled. Anthropometry and calculation of body mass index (BMI) were carried out. GWG was evaluated by the difference between the weight before delivery and prepregnancy. The control group consisted of 117 women who were under routine antenatal supervision. The main group – 102 pregnant women, who were enrolled to the program of PA. The level of intensity of PA was estimated on the «International Physical Activity Questionnaire». The results were statistically analyzed using using Microsoft Excel-based statistical analysis package and Statistica 6.0 program pack (StatSoft Inc.,USA). Results. It was proved that only moderate (r = – 0.68; p<0.001) and intensive (r = – 0.68; p<0.001) levels of PA have an inverse correlation with GWG, while low (r = 0.64; p<0.001) and sedentary (r = 0.79; p<0.001) activities contribute to weight gain. In the main group the moderate level of PA (82,2±9,8 MET-h/week) has increase in compared with the control group (54,5±10,0 MET-h/week) (p<0.05). A level of GWG (1.3±1.3) kg was lower in the main group 11.1±1.2 kg versus 14.5±1.2 kg in the control (p<0.05). In the main group, the number of pregnant women with the recommended GWG (64.7±4.7%) exceeded 2.9 times (p<0.001) with excessive and 4.7 times (p<0.001) with insufficient weight gain. Implementation of the PA program significantly reduced the risk of excessive GWG at normal weight (OR 0.42; 95% Cl: 0.20–0.86; p<0.05), overweight (OR 0.06; 95% Cl: 0.01–0.16; p<0.05) and obese women (OR 0.11; 95% Cl: 0.02–0.68; p<0.05). The proposed PA did not significantly decrease the risk of insufficient GWG in women with low prepregnancy BMI. Conclusions. It has been proven that moderate PA increases the chances recommended GWG (4.48; 95% Cl: 2.53–7.91; p<0.001), while low PA is insufficient to prevent excessive weight gain (OR 2.01; 95% Cl: 1.07–3.92; p<0.05). Due to small percentage of pregnant women with an intensive level of PA in the present study, no statistically significant effect of this level on GWG was found (p=0.85). Key words: pregnancy, gestational weight gain, physical activity.

scholarly journals Decreased Physical Activity during Pregnancy Is Associated with Excessive Gestational Weight Gain

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12597
Author(s):  
Jia-Jing Sun ◽  
Li-Yin Chien
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
The Body ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Excessive Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

The majority of pregnant women in Taiwan are not considered physically active. During pregnancy, many women decrease their physical activity levels when compared to pre-pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between decreased physical activity from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). This study applied a prospective panel design. Recruitment was conducted at six medical facilities in Taiwan and lasted from August 2016 to April 2017. Physical activity levels were determined both before and during pregnancy using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form, with data subsequently being transformed into METs-min/week. Excessive GWG was determined based on the body mass index (BMI) specific GWG range. We recruited 747 pregnant women in their second trimester and followed them through to one-month postpartum. About 40% of participants (41.2%) exhibited excessive GWG. Physical activity decreased from an average of 2261 (SD = 3999) to 1252 (SD = 2258) METs-min/week from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy (p < 0.0001). Controlling for age and pre-pregnancy BMI, a logistic regression model revealed that a decline in physical activity of > 4000 METs-min/week from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy was associated with an increased risk for excessive GWG (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.27–4.43). A substantial decrease in physical activity from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy was a risk factor for excessive GWG. Although most women decreased their physical activity during pregnancy, only those pregnant women who were physically active pre-pregnancy could show the kind of large decrease that resulted in excessive GWG. Health professionals should continue to develop strategies for counteracting the problematic trend of decreasing PA during pregnancy among low-risk pregnant women.

Development and Evaluation of a Theory-Based App for Managing Gestational Weight Gain for Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women: A Mixed-Method Pilot Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Fang Lee ◽  
Li-Kang Chi ◽  
Yvonne Hsiung ◽  
Jian-Pei Huang ◽  
Chun-Wei Chang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Healthy Behavior ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Methodological Guidelines

BACKGROUND Overweight and obese women’s excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) may be a health risk for both the mother and the fetus; excessive GWG leads to the retention of weight postpartum and thus obesity. Given the overwhelming number of existing pregnancy-related applications (apps), we lack only a few methodological guidelines for integrating theory, evidence and previously validated apps to help overweight and obese women manage their GWG during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE This two-phase study aimed to develop the MyHealthyWeight (MHW) app based on social-cognitive theory (SCT) and evaluate its effectiveness for overweight and obese women in helping prevent excessive GWG by enhancing adherence to optimal GWG goals and healthy behavior during pregnancy. METHODS First, we constructed and developed the MHW app based on SCT theory, and we later employed a mixed-method study to evaluate the effects of the app on overweight and obese pregnant women. RESULTS All participating overweight and obese pregnant women (100%) achieved their optimal GWG through increased self-efficacy and physical activity. Their total and moderate-intensity physical activity expenditures improved, while their sedentary and light-intensity levels of physical activity decreased. CONCLUSIONS This theory-based MHW app for weight management was greatly valued by the pregnant users. Its usefulness for health-care professionals in assisting overweight and obese pregnant women in preventing excessive GWG by promoting healthy behavior, in particular through physical exercise and a healthy diet, during pregnancy was also confirmed. CLINICALTRIAL NCT04553718

Greater energy demand of exercise during pregnancy does not impact mechanical efficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 493-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Denize ◽  
Pegah Akbari ◽  
Danilo Fernandes da Silva ◽  
Francois Haman ◽  
Kristi B. Adamo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Movement Pattern ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Mechanical Efficiency ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Gestational Weight

Pregnant women are recommended to engage in 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week to reduce pregnancy complications. Many women struggle to remain physically active throughout pregnancy, and there is no consensus about whether women adopt a less efficient movement pattern as they progress through pregnancy and experience gestational weight gain. This study assessed the change in energy expenditure and mechanical efficiency in pregnant women (PREG; n = 10) when performing a walking treadmill task in early, mid, and late pregnancy and also compared with an age- and body mass index-matched, nonpregnant (CON; n = 10) group. On average, the PREG group gained within the Institute of Medicine’s gestational weight gain guidelines (11.6 ± 3.6 kg) and were all inactive (measured using accelerometry), except for 1 participant, by the third trimester, as per the 2019 Canadian physical activity guidelines for pregnant women. Energy expended to complete the walking task increased throughout pregnancy and was higher than the controls (111.5 ± 24.6 kcal) in mid and late pregnancy (139.0 ± 22.2 kcal, p = 0.02, and 147.3 ± 24.6 kcal, p = 0.005, respectively), but not early pregnancy (129.9 ± 18.9 kcal, p = 0.08). Walking mechanical efficiency was similar within pregnant women at each time point and compared to nonpregnant controls. Our findings add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that pregnant women can safely perform physical activity by showing that walking mechanical efficiency is unchanged at low to moderate intensities. Novelty Energy demand during exercise increases proportionally to weight gain across pregnancy trimesters. However, mechanical efficiency remains unchanged during low- to moderate-intensity walking.

scholarly journals Limiting Excess Weight Gain in Healthy Pregnant Women: Importance of Energy Intakes, Physical Activity, and Adherence to Gestational Weight Gain Guidelines

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara R. Cohen ◽  
Kristine G. Koski
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Weight Retention ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Daily Energy ◽  
Postpartum Weight ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Activity Questionnaire

Few studies have investigated if compliance with energy intakes, physical activity, and weight gain guidelines attenuate postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in mothers attending prenatal classes. We investigated whether (a) daily energy intakes within 300 kcal of estimated energy requirements (EERs), (b) walking more than 5000 steps/day, (c) targeting the recommended weight gain goals for prepregnancy BMI, and/or (d) achieving weekly or total gestational weight gain (GWG) recommendations minimized PPWR in 54 women attending prenatal classes in Montreal/Ottawa, Canada. Participants completed a validated pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ), 3 telephone-validated 24-hr dietary recalls, and wore a pedometer for one week. PPWR was measured 6 weeks after delivery. Results showed that 72% had healthy prepregnancy BMIs. However, 52% consumed>300 kcal/day in excess of their EER, 54% exceeded recommended GWG, and more overweight (93%) than normal weight women (38%) cited nonrecommended GWG targets. Following delivery, 33% were classified as overweight, and 17% were obese. Multiple logistic regressions revealed that women targeting “recommended weight gain advice” were 3 times more likely to meet total GWG recommendations (OR: 3.2,P<0.05); women who complied with weekly GWG goals minimized PPWR (OR: 4.2,P<0.02). In conclusion, appropriate GWG targets, lower energy intakes, and physical activity should be emphasized in prenatal education programs.

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