Relationship between Physical Activity and Physical and Mental Health Status in Pregnant Women: A Prospective Cohort Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Yasuyuki Yamada,Taro Matsuki,Michihiro Kamijima,Hirotaka Sato,Shinji Saitoh,Hirohisa Kano,Sayaka Kato,Takeshi Ebara,Mayumi Sugiura-Ogasawara,Hazuki Tamada

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111373

Yasuyuki Yamada, Taro Matsuki + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111373

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Abstract

To discuss appropriate physical activity (PA) levels during pregnancy, this prospective cohort study examined the relationships between PA levels before and during pregnancy and physical and mental health status. Fixed data for 104,102 pregnant women were used from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, of which data for 82,919 women were analyzed after excluding women with multiple birth and pregnancy complications. PA levels were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. The 8-Item Short Form Health Survey was used to measure outcomes. Logistic regression with multiple imputations showed that moderate PA for over 720 min/wk and vigorous PA before pregnancy were associated with poorer mental health in the first trimester (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.087–1.376. Walking in the second and third trimesters was associated with better physical and mental health (AOR: 0.855–0.932). Moderate PA over 1080 min/wk and vigorous PA in the second and third trimesters were associated with poorer mental health (AOR: 1.223–1.873). Increases over 4135.4 MET–min/wk and decreases in PA levels were associated with poorer mental and physical health (AOR: 1.070–1.333). Namely, pregnant women receiving health benefits prefer continuous walking in addition to avoiding vigorous PA and excessive changes in PA levels during pregnancy.

Highlights

During pregnancy, it is recommended that women have exercise habits and engage in physical activity (PA), as they and their fetuses can receive health benefits, such as the prevention of gestational diabetes [1,2,3], preterm delivery [4], cardiovascular disease [5], and depression [3,6]
We examined the relationships between the PA levels before pregnancy and physical and mental health in the first trimester
Performing vigorous PA before pregnancy, especially over 1080 min/wk, was associated with better physical health

Summary

Introduction

It is recommended that women have exercise habits and engage in physical activity (PA), as they and their fetuses can receive health benefits, such as the prevention of gestational diabetes [1,2,3], preterm delivery [4], cardiovascular disease [5], and depression [3,6]. For pregnant women, exercise leads to improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, gestational weight management, and sleep cycles, while preventing urinary incontinence and low back pain [6].

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