Physical Activity Level And Weight Gain In A Cohort Of Pregnant Norwegian Women

Abstract

It is generally recommended that healthy pregnant women should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, and preferable all, days of the week. However, there is scant knowledge about overall physical activity and exercise levels among pregnant women. PURPOSE: 1) asess the total physical activity level of pregnant women and 2) investigate the assosiation between weight gain, physical activity and exercise during pregnancy. METHODS: Pregnant women (n=467) answered a questionnaire about total physical activity level in gestation week 36. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of the women reported to perform their work in a sitting position. Most participants were driving (52.9%) or used public transport (31.7%) to work. Thirty-nine percent reported sedentary activities of 4 hours or more (watching television and reading) daily. Nineteen percent were denned as non-exercisers before pregnancy, 30% in 1st trimester, 36% in 2nd trimester and 53% in 3rd trimester. Fifty women (10.6%) continued to exercise >4 times per week in the 3rd trimester. Mean weight gain was 13.8 kg (SD 5.2). However, 32% of the normal pregestational weight women (preBMI<26) and 51% of the overweight women (preBMI>26) had exceeded weight gain above the Institute of Medicine (IOM 1990) recommendations. Women who exercised regularly had significantly lower weight gain than inactive women in the 3rd trimester only. CONCLUSIONS: A low hysical activity level was found, and a high percentage of women exceeded the recommended weight gain during pregnancy