BACKGROUND: Although physical activity during pregnancy may be beneficial, the prenatal period is a vulnerable time for decreasing physical activity levels and increasing sedentary time. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study measured physical activity using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in singleton, pregnant women in the second (14-18 wk gestation; n = 332) and third trimester (29-33 wk; n = 256). RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in total MVPA (MET mins/wk) between the second and third trimester (P = .01). The majority of physical activity time was spent in walking for transport (80%), and less than 2% in recreational activities. In both trimesters, being married was inversely associated with walking for transport (second trimester: β = -0.12 95% CI = -0.31 to -0.02, third trimester: β = -0.17 95% CI = -0.47 to -0.07) and owning a car was positively associated with recreational physical activity (second trimester: β = 0.16 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.32, third trimester: β = 0.17 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.27). The women spent an average of 5 hours per day sitting. CONCLUSIONS: The low and declining levels of physical activity during pregnancy in this population are a concern. Interventions that include lifestyle education and provision of accessible recreational physical activity programs for pregnant women are needed.
BACKGROUND: Although physical activity during pregnancy may be beneficial, the prenatal period is a vulnerable time for decreasing physical activity levels and increasing sedentary time. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study measured physical activity using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in singleton, pregnant women in the second (14-18 wk gestation; n = 332) and third trimester (29-33 wk; n = 256). RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in total MVPA (MET mins/wk) between the second and third trimester (P = .01). The majority of physical activity time was spent in walking for transport (80%), and less than 2% in recreational activities. In both trimesters, being married was inversely associated with walking for transport (second trimester: β = -0.12 95% CI = -0.31 to -0.02, third trimester: β = -0.17 95% CI = -0.47 to -0.07) and owning a car was positively associated with recreational physical activity (second trimester: β = 0.16 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.32, third trimester: β = 0.17 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.27). The women spent an average of 5 hours per day sitting. CONCLUSIONS: The low and declining levels of physical activity during pregnancy in this population are a concern. Interventions that include lifestyle education and provision of accessible recreational physical activity programs for pregnant women are needed.
Entities:
Keywords:
exercise; low-to-middle income country; obesity; pregnancy; prenatal
Authors: Meghan Baruth; Rebecca A Schlaff; Samantha Deere; Jessica L Walker; Brenna L Dressler; Sarah F Wagner; Ashley Boggs; Holly A Simon Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2019-12
Authors: A Prioreschi; S Wrottesley; C E Draper; S A Tomaz; C J Cook; E D Watson; M N M Van Poppel; R Said-Mohamed; S A Norris; E V Lambert; L K Micklesfield Journal: Glob Health Action Date: 2017 Impact factor: 2.640