Physical Activity Patterns in Normal-Weight and Overweight/Obese Pregnant Women

PLoS One. 2016 Nov 9;11(11):e0166254. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166254. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to assess the volume of physical activity (PA) throughout pregnancy in normal-weight vs overweight/obese women, and to investigate which factors may predict compliance to PA recommendations in these women throughout gestation. In 236 pregnant women, 177 normal-weight and 59 overweight/obese (median[IQR] BMI 21.2[19.9-22.8] vs 26.5[25.5-29.0] kg/m2, respectively), medical history, anthropometry and clinical data, including glucose tolerance, were recorded. In addition, pre-pregnancy PA was estimated by the Kaiser questionnaire, while total, walking and fitness/sport PA during pregnancy were assessed by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) modified questionnaire, at 14-16, 24-28 and 30-32 weeks of gestation. PA volume was very low in the first trimester of pregnancy in both groups of women. However, it increased in the second and third trimester in normal-weight, but not in overweight/obese subjects. Higher pre-pregnancy PA was a statistically significant predictor of being physically active (>150 minutes of PA per week) during all trimesters of gestation. In conclusion, physical activity volume is low in pregnant women, especially in overweight/obese subjects. PA volume increases during pregnancy only in normal-weight women. Pre-pregnancy PA is an independent predictor of achieving a PA volume of at least 150 min per week during pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Overweight / complications*
  • Overweight / psychology
  • Pregnancy / psychology*
  • Pregnancy Complications / psychology*
  • Pregnancy Trimesters
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.