scholarly journals Effects of lifestyle intervention on dietary intake, physical activity level, and gestational weight gain in pregnant women with different pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index in a randomized control trial

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Leung Hui ◽  
Lisa Back ◽  
Sora Ludwig ◽  
Phillip Gardiner ◽  
Gustaaf Sevenhuysen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Physical Activity Level ◽  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Randomized Control

scholarly journals The weight of motherhood: Identifying obesity, gestational weight gain and physical activity level of Italian pregnant women

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 174550652110161
Author(s):  
Maria Beatrice Benvenuti ◽  
Kari Bø ◽  
Simonetta Draghi ◽  
Elisabetta Tandoi ◽  
Lene AH Haakstad
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Physical Activity Level ◽  
Regular Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
Gestational Weight

Objective: Pre-pregnancy obesity and suboptimal gestational weight gain are on the rise globally and are independently associated with several maternal and neonatal complications. A healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity, may improve health and reduce these complications, but many women are less active and willing to engage in physical activity with advancing gestation. Therefore, the inclusion of a wider range of physical activity such as domestic chore, occupational activity and active commuting may help pregnant women to meet the physical activity recommendations of 150 min/week. Very little is known about these issues in Italy, a country with strong traditional roles regarding pregnancy and motherhood, including “la famiglia” (the family). Primary objective describes health and lifestyle behavior of pregnant Italian women. Secondary objective reports total physical activity level, recreational exercise and context of these activities from pre-pregnancy and throughout gestation in regard to gestational weight gain management. Study design: Cross-sectional study performed in one public hospital and four antenatal clinics in Italy. Participants (n = 513) completed a validated self-administered questionnaire, the Physical Activity Pregnancy Questionnaire, in gestation week 36.01 (standard deviation 2.0). Pre-pregnancy body weight (kg) was self-reported, whereas maternal weight (kg) was measured at gestation week 36. In line with current American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines (2020), participants were categorized into regular physical activity (⩾150 min/week) or non-regular physical activity (<150 min/week). Results: Mean pre-pregnancy body-mass index was 22.8 kg/m2 (standard deviation 3.9), with 14.4% of women entering motherhood overweight and 5.3% obese. Mean gestational weight gain was 11.9 kg (standard deviation 4.1). Among those with a body-mass index ⩾25, 46.5% gained above the Institute of Medicine recommendations. With respect to recreational exercise/sport, 4.7% were active according to guidelines, whereas 82.7% accumulated ⩾150 min/week when combining exercise/sport with daily-life physical activity (commuting and occupational). Exercising ⩾150 min/week and working 100% in third trimester were associated with gestational weight gain within Institute of Medicine recommendations (p = 0.06 and p = 0.03). Conclusion: Italian pregnant women have a low exercise level, still over 80% achieved a total physical activity level ⩾150 min/week when adding occupational and commuting activities. Nearly 50% of overweight and obese women exceeded the recommended gestational weight gain during pregnancy.

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 Maternal Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy and Their Association with Gestational Weight Gain and Nutrient Adequacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 7908
Author(s):  
Naomi Cano-Ibáñez ◽  
Juan Miguel Martínez-Galiano ◽  
Miguel Angel Luque-Fernández ◽  
Sandra Martín-Peláez ◽  
Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Mediterranean Dietary Pattern ◽  
Nutrient Adequacy ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
The Mediterranean

Several epidemiologic studies have shown an association between Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) and offspring complications. The GWG is directly linked to maternal dietary intake and women’s nutritional status during pregnancy. The aim of this study was (1) to assess, in a sample of Spanish pregnant women, the association between maternal dietary patterns and GWG and (2) to assess maternal dietary patterns and nutrient adequate intake according to GWG. A retrospective study was conducted in a sample of 503 adult pregnant women in five hospitals in Eastern Andalusia (Spain). Data on demographic characteristics, anthropometric values, and dietary intake were collected from clinical records by trained midwives. Usual food intake was gathered through a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and dietary patterns were obtained by principal component analysis. Nutrient adequacy was defined according to European dietary intake recommendations for pregnant women. Regression models adjusted by confounding factors were constructed to study the association between maternal dietary pattern and GWG, and maternal dietary patterns and nutritional adequacy. A negative association was found between GWG and the Mediterranean dietary pattern (crude β = −0.06, 95% CI: −0.11, −0.04). Independent of maternal dietary pattern, nutrient adequacy of dietary fiber, vitamin B9, D, E, and iodine was related to a Mediterranean dietary pattern (p < 0.05). A Mediterranean dietary pattern is related to lower GWG and better nutrient adequacy. The promotion of healthy dietary behavior consistent with the general advice promoted by the Mediterranean Diet (based on legumes, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and whole cereals) will offer healthful, sustainable, and practical strategies to control GWG and ensure adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy.

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.

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