Gestational weight gain and body composition changes in relation to physical activity during pregnancy
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Background: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with adverse outcomes for mother and child; caesarean delivery, hyperglycaemia, macrosomia, postpartum weight retention and overweight/obesity. Exercise during pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of excessive GWG and other potential benefits. Aims: To investigate the relationship between GWG and fat mass change (ΔFM) with self-reported measures of physical activity. Methods: Data was obtained as a part of the Pregnancy Obesity Nutrition and Child Health Study (PONCH). 124 women (BMI = 18.5-24.9) completed three visits during pregnancy (trimester (T) 1, 2 and 3). Visits included questionnaires about lifestyle, measuring body composition by air-displacement plethysmography, blood samples, and an interview about physical activity (type of training, how many times/week and for how long, level of activity, and mode of transportation). T-test and linear regression (adjusted for covariables) were used to analyse association between physical activity and GWG. Results: Strength training was negatively associated with GWG (P<0.001 Beta=-0.33), ΔFM (P=0.001 Beta=-0.30) and fat percentage change (ΔF%) (P=0.01 Beta=-0.24) from T1 to T3 adjusted for mothers age, parity, educational level and weight in T1. Women reporting ≥150 min/week of strength and/or cardiovascular training had a lower GWG (9.17kg vs 11.66kg), ΔFM (4.22kg vs 6.54kg) and ΔF% (2.32% vs 4.43%) than women that did not. Women that reported active transport to/from work experienced less GWG (10.2kg vs 11.8kg) than women that did not. Women reporting higher levels (3-4) of activity in leisure time had a lower GWG and ΔFM than women reporting level 0-2 (P<0.05). Conclusions: In normal-weight women, strength training, high levels of physical activity and active transportation during pregnancy could reduce GWG and ΔFM.