Activity Levels Of Pregnant Women Research Articles

Physical activity levels of pregnant women at the time of diagnosis with gestational diabetes attending a tertiary care hospital in Lucknow City, Uttar Pradesh

: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is one of the pregnancy complications characterized by carbohydrate intolerance that develops or is discovered during pregnancy. Physical inactivity and excessive gestational weight gain have been identified as independent risk factors for maternal obesity and pregnancy-related disorders, such as gestational diabetes. Awareness of the significance of physical activity for bodily and psychological health is vitally essential. The woman and her family members need to be swayed to change with time and let go of their myths and false cultural perceptions that exercise can harm the baby. : To determine the physical activity pattern of pregnant women at the time of diagnosis with GDM. : 188 pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus was selected for the study. Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to calculate the duration; frequency, intensity, and type of physical activity during current gestational period. An average weekly energy expenditure in Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET-h-week) was calculated. Demographic data including age, socioeconomic status, parity, literacy and working status were collected. Data was analysed on 188 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM. The physical activity of moderate intensity was less performed by the pregnant women. None of the pregnant women were involved in vigorous type of physical activity. Only light intensity activities were performed by the study participants. The study concluded light intensity activity was commonly carried by pregnant women thus a low level of physical activity was observed during the pregnancy.

The influencing factors of changes in physical activity levels of pregnant women during pregnancy: From the perspective of continuous care.

A comprehensive understanding of physical activity levels (PAL) among Chinese pregnant women and an exploration, from a continuous care perspective, of various factors influencing these activity levels. Investigating the correlations between adverse habits, psychological factors, and PAL in prenatal health management. This study aims to provide substantial guidance for prenatal health management and personalized care, offering recommendations to healthcare professionals and policymakers to enhance the overall health and well-being of pregnant women. This study enrolled 1256 pregnant women as research subjects. Baseline information was collected through a personal information collection form. Subsequently, continuous care was provided during the early, middle, and late stages of pregnancy, documenting the respective influencing factors. Simultaneously, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was utilized to assess the PAL of pregnant women across different trimesters. Finally, using the SPSS software version 25.0, a combined approach of generalized linear mixed effects (GLME) models and multivariate logistic regression was used to statistically analyze the collected data, comprehensively exploring the influencing factors of PAL during pregnancy. The proportion of research subjects engaged in low-level physical activity decreased from 60.80% to 40.34% across various stages of pregnancy, while the proportion engaged in moderate-level physical activity ranged from 25.32% to 40.75%. Meanwhile, the proportion engaged in high-level physical activity accounted for 13.88% to 18.91%.There was P = .021 and β = -0.276 for smoking before pregnancy. The P-value of pregnant women who smoke in the second trimester was.035, the Odds Ratio (OR) value was 0.638, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was (0.406, 0.972). The difference was statistically significant (all P < .05). In China, the physical activity level of pregnant women is generally low, which is related to factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep disorders, and depression during pregnancy. Medical personnel should improve the living habits of pregnant women and enhance their PAL through measures such as health education and psychological counseling.

Physical activity changes and influencing factors among Chinese pregnant women: a longitudinal study

Objective Participating in physical activity during pregnancy has benefited a lot from maternal and child health. However, there are few longitudinal studies describing activity patterns and related factors during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to investigate longitudinal physical activity changes and the influencing factors of Chinese pregnant women. Methods From January to August 2020, 240 pregnant women were recruited in Hangzhou, China. Physical activity during pregnancy was assessed in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy by using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results The daily energy consumption during first, second, and third trimesters was 20.55, 20.76, 17.19 METs-h/d. The results of repeated-measure analysis of variance and pairwise comparison showed that the total daily energy consumption of physical activity in the third trimester was significantly lower than that in the first and second trimesters, with statistical significance (p < 0.001). The generalized estimation equation showed that education level, pre-pregnancy BMI, gravidity, unnaturally conceived and pre-pregnancy exercise habits were the influencing factors of physical activity during pregnancy (p < 0.05). Conclusion Physical activity levels of pregnant women during different trimester were not optimistic. In order to improve physical activity during pregnancy and promote the health status of both mother and the developing baby, more attention should be paid on pregnant women with low education level, high BMI before pregnancy, primipara, unnaturally conceived and no good exercise habits before pregnancy.

The Impact of a Single Supervised Exercise Session in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy on the Physical Activity Levels of Pregnant Women-A Pilot Study.

Despite the numerous beneficial effects of physical exercise during pregnancy, the levels of physical activity remain low. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of a single supervised physical exercise session on the overall physical activity levels of pregnant women. During the third trimester, pregnant women attending our outpatient clinic were requested to assess their physical activity levels using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Additionally, they were invited to participate in a supervised 30 min mild-moderate-intensity aerobic exercise session (stationary bike ergometer) under the guidance of medical personnel. Subsequently, physical activity levels were reevaluated at the time of delivery. Prior to the intervention, 3 out of 50 (6%) women engaged in mild-moderate physical activity for 150 min per week, while 20 out of 50 (40%) women participated in mild-moderate activity for 15-30 min, twice a week. Following the intervention, these percentages increased to 10 out of 50 (20%) and 31 out of 50 (62%), respectively (p < 0.05). This pilot study suggests that a single exercise session supervised by medical personnel may significantly improve the low physical activity levels observed in pregnant women.

General Health Status and Physical Activity Level of Pregnant Women in Bojnord, Iran During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Aims Major changes to lifestyle due to the COVID-19 pandemic increased the potential risk of psychological disorders among pregnant women. This study aims to investigate the general health status of pregnant women in Bojnord, Iran, and assess its relationship with their physical activity level. Methods This is a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population consists of all pregnant women referred to prenatal care centers in Bojnord city, of whom 55 were selected as the study samples. The instruments were the pregnancy physical activity questionnaire and the 28-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). Spearman correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between the two variables. Results The mean scores for the GHQ-28 subscales of somatic symptoms, severe depression, social dysfunction, and anxiety/insomnia were 11.90, 11.91, 12.97, and 16.49, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between general health status and level of physical activity (r=0.54; P&lt;0.001). Regarding the four dimensions of GHQ-28, the results showed that physical activity had a negative and significant relationship with somatic symptoms (r=-0.61) and severe depression (r=-0.33), but it had no significant relationship with anxiety/insomnia and social dysfunction. Conclusion Pregnant women in Bojnord, Iran, are at risk of problems in several domains of general health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recommended that they stay active or engage in physical activity to regulate the psychological effects of the pandemic and quarantine.

Level of physical activity and other maternal characteristics during the third trimester of pregnancy and its association with birthweight at term in South Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study.

Birthweight continues to be the leading infant health indicator and the main focus of infant health policy. Low birthweight babies are at a higher risk of mortality and morbidity in most low-income countries. However, the physical activity level of pregnant women and its association with low birthweight is not well studied in Ethiopia. To address the above gap, we aimed to examine the maternal physical activity level and other characteristics during the third trimester and its association with birthweight at term in South Ethiopia. A community-based prospective cohort study was conducted among 247 randomly selected women in their third trimester of pregnancy. We measured the physical activity level using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, which included the type and level of various categories of activities. Anthropometric measurements of mothers were taken following standard procedures, and birthweight was recorded within 72 hours of delivery. To identify the effect of physical activity level and other maternal characteristics on low birthweight, we performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Overall, 111 (47.2%) mothers were engaged in vigorous physical activities during third trimester. The incidence of low birthweight was 21.6% and 9.68% among newborns of mothers who engaged in vigorous and moderate or low physical activity, respectively. The incidence of low birthweight at term was significantly associated with vigorous physical activity [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-6.09], prolonged standing [AOR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.14-9.93], and squatting [AOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.04-6.54)] during the third trimester of pregnancy. The vast majority of pregnant women were engaged in vigorous physical activities in their third trimester. Engagement in vigorous physical activity, standing for longer hours, and squatting were the major contributors to low birthweight at term. Hence, focused counseling should be conducted to reduce vigorous physical activity, standing, and squatting during the third trimester among pregnant women.

Gebelikte yapılan fiziksel aktivitenin sağlıkla ilgili yaşam kalitesi ve depresyon-anksiyete üzerine etkisi

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the effect of physical activity on health-related quality of life and depression-anxiety in pregnancy.Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study included 347 pregnant women who were admitted to the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient polyclinic. The quality of life of the pregnant women was collected using the Nottingham Health Profile scale, physical activity levels were collected by using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and data on depression and anxiety levels of the participants were collected using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory.Results: When physical activity levels of pregnant women were compared according to Nottingham Health Profile scale and quality of life subscales; there were statistically significant differences between physical activity levels and energy level, social isolation, emotional status, sleep and total Nottingham Health Profile score. There was a significant relationship between low (a) - high (c) and middle (b) - high (c) groups when anxiety levels were compared with physical activity levels. Conclusion: The results of our study are considered to act as a guideline for the regulation and necessity of physical activity in pregnant women.

Pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ): Translation and cross cultural adaption of an Arabic version.

Physical activity level during pregnancy is unknown in Middle Eastern and North African countries, since no valid tools assessing it exist in Arabic. The aim of this study is to culturally adapt and translate to Arabic an internationally validated instrument, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), and to measure the physical activity of pregnant women using the adapted PPAQ, Arabic version. This tool is time-sparing, self-administered and is the only one taking into account childcare and household chores. After following the guidelines for translation and back-translation by certified translators, a committee composed of professionals in the field reviewed each item of the PPAQ, for its comprehensibility. This Arabic version of the PPAQ was tested on a sample of 179 pregnant Lebanese women, from different educational backgrounds, socioeconomic status and gestational ages. Cross-cultural adaptations were applied on the newly translated PPAQ in Arabic version, thus questions referring to some types of outdoor activities were excluded from the final format. Our results reported that 51% and 1.7% of women engage respectively in light and high intensity physical activity, while 18% had a sedentary lifestyle. Occupational type of activities were significantly more performed by women having a higher education (p value 0.001), as opposed to those who attended only high school, who were physically more active in household activities (p value 0.038). Second trimester was a period where pregnant women were active for household, caregiving (p value 0.031), whereas women in their third trimester were physically more active in occupational activities (p value 0.001). Sport-oriented activities were performed by women reporting a good physical status (p value 0.03). Age and crowding index were significantly correlated with occupational, household and caregiving activities (p values 0.004, 0.008 respectively). No significant correlations were observed with pre-gestational body mass index and the physical activity levels. A valid tool will help researchers in Arab countries identify physical activity levels of pregnant women and consequently emit specific guidelines relative to the importance and the benefits of a daily active lifestyle throughout gestation.

Reliability and validity of Turkish version of pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ) in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication during pregnancy. Evaluation of the quantitative physical activity in diabetic pregnant women is critical. The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) in Turkish patients with GDM. A total of 120 pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 44 years with GDM were included. The reliability of the questionnaire was measured by internal consistency and analysis of 2-week test-retest reliability. Of the patients, 74 completed the test-retest procedure. Concurrent validity was examined by comparing the PPAQ with the Short Form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in 36 patients. Test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient scores varied between 0.72 and 0.95. The Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the PPAQ total activity values were statistically significantly correlated with the total values of IPAQ-Short Form (r = 0.410 and p = .030). In conclusion, the Turkish version of the PPAQ is a valid and reliable tool for the measurement of the physical activity level of pregnant women with GDM.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? The pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ) developed in 2004 by Chasan-Taber et al.; is a simple and short questionnaire measuring the frequency, duration, and intensity of physical activity in pregnant women. To date, this questionnaire has been translated into many languages and has been used in a number of studies.What do the results of this study add? The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the PPAQ in Turkish pregnant women with GDM. On the basis of our study results, we suggest that the Turkish version of the PPAQ is a valid and reliable tool for the measurement of the physical activity level of pregnant women with GDM.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Evaluation of the quantitative physical activity in diabetic pregnant women may contribute to gain a better understanding of the role of physical activity during treatment and may be useful to compare the results of different studies carried out in different places more effectively.

A study of physical activity levels of pregnant women using the Polish version of Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ-Pl).

The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal level of physical activity during pregnancy and discuss whether and to what extent biological, social and demographic variables affect the level of total physical activity in studied women. The respondents were 267 pregnant women from Poland aged 28.16 ± 4.67 years. The majority of women under study had a higher and a secondary education and lived in villages near Poznań, i.e. a large urban agglom- eration in Poland. Most of the women were in the first or second pregnancies, at the mean gestational age of 24th week. The study used the Polish version of PPAQ questionnaire to determine the weekly energy expenditure (MET hour/week -1) (Krzepota, Sadowska 2017). The respondents self-assessed their physical activity levels by filling in a questionnaire consist- ing of 33 items grouped into the following activity categories: household/caregiving (15 items), occupational (5 items), sports/exercises (7-9 items), transportation (3 items), and inactivity (3 items). Pregnant women prefer physical exercises of low and moderate intensity. The test results indicated a significant im- pact of variables such as age, trimester of pregnancy, and number (sequence) of pregnancies on the women's physical activity. The results of the present study confirm that actions propagating active lifestyles among pregnant women are necessary. It also appears that the recommendations of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians regarding the physical activity of pregnant and postnatal women require adjustments and improvements.

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

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.

Transcultural adaptation and psychometric properties of Spanish version of Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire: the PregnActive project

ObjectiveTo transculturally adapt the Spanish version of Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) analyzing its psychometric properties. MethodsThe PPAQ was transculturally adapted into Spanish. Test-retest reliability was evaluated in a subsample of 109 pregnant women. The validity was evaluated in a sample of 208 pregnant women who answered the questionnaire and wore the multi-sensor monitor for 7 valid days. The reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient), concordance (concordance correlation coefficient), correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient), agreement (Bland-Altman plots) and relative activity levels (Jonckheere-Terpstra test) between both administrations and methods were examined. ResultsIntraclass correlation coefficients between both administrations were good for all categories except transportation. A low but significant correlation was found for total activity (light and above) whereas no correlation was found for other intensities between both methods. Relative activity levels analysis showed a significant linear trend for increased total activity between both methods. ConclusionsSpanish version of PPAQ is a brief and easily interpretable questionnaire with good reliability and ability to rank individuals, and poor validity compared with multi-sensor monitor. The use of PPAQ provides information of pregnancy-specific activities in order to establish physical activity levels of pregnant women and adapt health promotion interventions.

Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women and Neonatal Health in the Maternity Wards of the City of Parakou in Benin

Introduction: Few studies are interested to perinatal health in relation to the nutritional status of pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objectives of this study were to determine the factors associated with newborn weight in the city of Parakou in 2017.Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical prospective study conducted on 205 pregnant women and their newborns in the maternity wards of the city of Parakou from 1st July to 30th September, 2016. The authors have determined the Body Mass Index (BMI), the GWG, and the anthropometric profile of newborns. The Chi-square test and the prevalence ratios were used to compare the variables with the 0.05 p-value threshold.Results: The prevalence of obese, overweight and lean pregnant women was respectively 9.8%, 21.5% and 9.3%. The proportions of pregnant women who had normal or high GWG were respectively 48.8% and 41.9%. Almost half the lean pregnant women (47.4%) had not reached a normal GWG. The prevalence of hypotrophic, normotrophic and hypertrophic newborns was respectively 7.8%, 27.8% and 64.4%. Newborn hypotrophy was associated with socio-economic well-being level (OR=21.1; p=0.000), BMI, GWG, and Physical Activity Level of pregnant women (p<0.05). Newborn hypertrophy was associated with obesity, excessive GWG, and low level of physical activity of pregnant women.Conclusion: The nutritional status of the pregnant woman is associated with the weight of the newborn.

A follow-up study to assess the determinants and consequences of physical activity in pregnant women of Cuenca, Spain.

BackgroundIn recent years, the influence of physical exercise on pregnancy outcomes has been widely debated. Despite the numerous studies addressing the relationship between maternal physical activity and pregnancy outcomes, the evidence for consistent and significant impact of regular exercise during pregnancy on fetal growth remains lacking. The aims of this study were, first, to assess the level of physical activity performed throughout the pregnancy by objective (accelerometer) and self-reported (questionnaire) measurements, and, second, to ascertain pre-pregnancy physical activity levels, to estimate the relationship between levels of physical activity and some pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.Methods/designThis was a prospective cohort study. Participants were pregnant women (n = 194) aged 18 to 40 years who attended for three quarterly appointments for pregnancy ultrasound scans at the Virgen de la Luz Hospital in Cuenca, Spain. All participants provided written informed consents to participate in the study. Physical activity during the pregnancy follow-up was assessed by a self-reported Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and sleep log; also objectively by a GT3X accelerometer (ActiGraph). Furthermore, pregnancy symptoms inventory, nutritional behavioural assessment, socio-demographic characteristics, and anthropometry and body composition were measured.At the end of the follow up, the following main outcomes were determined: pregnancy outcomes (incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, weight gain during pregnancy, type of delivery, and neonatal outcomes (gestational age, birth weight, gender, Apgar score 1 min/5 min, type of resuscitation (I/II/III/IV), and pH of umbilical cord blood). Descriptive statistics for cross-sectional data, linear mixed regression models for absolute differences in changes baseline-final measurements were used as statistical analyses.DiscussionAlthough the effectiveness of physical activity programmes on improving maternal and neonatal outcomes has heretofore been studied, the impact of free time physical activity during pregnancy has not been assessed using objective measures. This paper reports the design of a prospective cohort study that aims to assess the physical activity levels of pregnant women, and to estimate the relationship between those physical activity levels with maternal and neonatal outcomes.This study could contribute to providing evidence for the formulation of recommendations for physical activity for pregnant women.

Physical Activity Patterns and Factors Related to Exercise during Pregnancy: A Cross Sectional Study.

ObjectiveTo assess the physical activity levels of pregnant women and to examine the characteristics associated with the practice of exercise and the activities of daily living during pregnancy.MethodsFor this cross-sectional study, 1,279 women were recruited within 72 hours postpartum. They were interviewed about their socio-demographic data and obstetric history and were administered self-report questionnaires about exercise and daily physical activities during pregnancy. Data on the current pregnancy, labor, delivery, and newborn outcomes were collected from participants’ medical records. To analyze factors related to the practice of exercise, we used the student t-test, X², and odds ratio (OR), with a corresponding 95% confident interval (CI), followed by a multiple logistic regression. The significance level was 5%.ResultsCompared to the pre-pregnancy period, the prevalence of physical activity among participants was lower throughout pregnancy (20.1%) (p = 0.01). Half of the women interrupted practicing physical exercise due to pregnancy. The lowest prevalence of exercise was observed in the first (13.6%) and third trimesters (13.4%). Less than half of women received exercise guidance during prenatal care meetings (47.4%). Walking was the most commonly reported exercise, followed by water aerobics. Factors positively associated with exercise practice were higher educational level (OR= 1.82; CI 95% 1.28–2.60), primiparity (OR=1.49; CI 95% 1.07–2.07), exercising before pregnancy (OR= 6.45; CI 95% 4.64–8.96), and exercise guidance during prenatal care (OR=2.54; CI 95% 1.80–3.57). Mildly intense exercise and domestic activities were most frequently reported among pregnant women. There were no differences in maternal and perinatal outcomes between active and sedentary pregnant women.ConclusionThe findings indicate that promoting physical activity remains a priority in public health policy, and women of childbearing age, especially those planning a pregnancy, should be encouraged to adopt an exercise routine or maintain an active lifestyle during pregnancy in order to avoid sedentary- and obesity-associated risks.

Pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ): reliability and validity of Turkish version.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to translate the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire into Turkish and test its reliability and validity among Turkish pregnant women. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 204 healthy, single pregnant women between the ages 18 and 40 who volunteered to participate in this study. Reliability was evaluated by measuring the one-week test-retest reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson’s correlation analysis. Concurrent validity was examined by comparing the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire with the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and step counts with pedometer. [Results] The mean age of the participants was 28.23±4.94 years, and the mean for BMI was 26.09±4.40. For test-retest reliability, r values were respectively 0.961, 0.934, 0.957 and 0.981 for self-reported sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient scores ranged from 0.924 to 0.993. For validity, the Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire ranged from moderate (r = 0.329) to high (r = 0.672). The correlation value between the total score of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and the step counts was 0.70. [Conclusion] The Turkish version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for measurement of the physical activity level of pregnant women.

Can physical activity reduce excessive gestational weight gain? Findings from a Chinese urban pregnant women cohort study.

BackgroundExcessive gestational weight gain (GWG) poses negative impact on mothers and their children. It is important to understand the modifiable lifestyle factors associated with excessive GWG during pregnancy to guide future public health practice.AimTo investigate the association between physical activity during pregnancy and GWG of Chinese urban pregnant women.MethodsA pregnant women cohort was established between 2005 and 2007 in Changzhou, China. Physical activity levels of pregnant women were assessed using pedometer in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively. According to step counts, pregnant women were categorized into 4 different physical activity groups: Sedentary, Low Active, Somewhat Active and Active. The pregnant women were followed for eligibility and data collection from the 2nd trimester to delivery. Multiple linear regression and multiple binary logistic model were applied to determine the association between physical activity and GWG.ResultsPhysical activity levels and GWG of 862 pregnant women were assessed, among them 473 (54.9%) experienced excessive GWG. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 0.59 (95%CI: 0.36 ~ 0.95) for excessive GWG in the Active group during the 2nd trimester and 0.66 (95%CI: 0.43 ~ 1.00) in the Somewhat Active group during the 3rd trimester, compared with the Sedentary group respectively. In the last two trimesters, the Active group had 1.45 kg less GWG, than the Sedentary group. The ORs of excessive GWG decreased with the increased level of physical activity (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study suggests that pregnant women being physically active have less weight gain during pregnancy.

Bayesian Variable Selection for Multivariate Spatially Varying Coefficient Regression

Physical activity has many well-documented health benefits for cardiovascular fitness and weight control. For pregnant women, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, if not all, days; however, very few pregnant women achieve this level of activity. Traditionally, studies have focused on examining individual or interpersonal factors to identify predictors of physical activity. There is a renewed interest in whether characteristics of the physical environment in which we live and work may also influence physical activity levels. We consider one of the first studies of pregnant women that examines the impact of characteristics of the built environment on physical activity levels. Using a socioecologic framework, we study the associations between physical activity and several factors including personal characteristics, meteorological/air quality variables, and neighborhood characteristics for pregnant women in four counties of North Carolina. We simultaneously analyze six types of physical activity and investigate cross-dependencies between these activity types. Exploratory analysis suggests that the associations are different in different regions. Therefore, we use a multivariate regression model with spatially varying regression coefficients. This model includes a regression parameter for each covariate at each spatial location. For our data with many predictors, some form of dimension reduction is clearly needed. We introduce a Bayesian variable selection procedure to identify subsets of important variables. Our stochastic search algorithm determines the probabilities that each covariate's effect is null, non-null but constant across space, and spatially varying. We found that individual-level covariates had a greater influence on women's activity levels than neighborhood environmental characteristics, and some individual-level covariates had spatially varying associations with the activity levels of pregnant women.

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

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

Physical activity level and weight gain in a cohort of pregnant Norwegian women

It is generally recommended that healthy, pregnant women should engage in moderate exercise on most days of the week. However, there is scant knowledge about the overall physical activity and exercise levels among pregnant women. To assess the total physical activity level of pregnant women, and to investigate the association between weight gain, physical activity and exercise during pregnancy. Pregnant women (n=467) answered a questionnaire on total physical activity level in gestation week 36. Some 55% of the participants reported working in a sitting position. Most women drove (52.9%) or used public transport (31.7%) to work. A total of 39% reported sedentary activities of>or=4 h (watching television and reading) daily; 19% were defined as non-exercisers before pregnancy, 30% in the first trimester, 36% in the second trimester and 53% in the third trimester. Fifty women (10.6%) continued to exercise>or=4 times/week in the third trimester. Mean weight gain was 13.8 kg (SD: 5.2). Of the normal pregestational weight women (pre-BMI: <26) and overweight women (pre-BMI: >or=26), 32 and 51% had exceeded weight gain above accepted recommendations, respectively. Women who exercised regularly had significantly lower weight gain than inactive women in the third trimester only. Pregnant women have a low total physical activity level, and a high percentage of women exceed the recommended weight gain during pregnancy.