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Decreased Physical Activity during Pregnancy Is Associated with Excessive Gestational Weight Gain

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  • Jia-Jing Sun

    (School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
    Department of Nursing, Heping Fuyou Branch of Taipei City Hospital, Taipei 112304, Taiwan)

  • Li-Yin Chien

    (Institute of Community Health Care, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Yang-Ming Campus, Taipei 112304, Taiwan)

Abstract

The majority of pregnant women in Taiwan are not considered physically active. During pregnancy, many women decrease their physical activity levels when compared to pre-pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between decreased physical activity from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). This study applied a prospective panel design. Recruitment was conducted at six medical facilities in Taiwan and lasted from August 2016 to April 2017. Physical activity levels were determined both before and during pregnancy using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form, with data subsequently being transformed into METs-min/week. Excessive GWG was determined based on the body mass index (BMI) specific GWG range. We recruited 747 pregnant women in their second trimester and followed them through to one-month postpartum. About 40% of participants (41.2%) exhibited excessive GWG. Physical activity decreased from an average of 2261 (SD = 3999) to 1252 (SD = 2258) METs-min/week from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy ( p < 0.0001). Controlling for age and pre-pregnancy BMI, a logistic regression model revealed that a decline in physical activity of > 4000 METs-min/week from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy was associated with an increased risk for excessive GWG (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.27–4.43). A substantial decrease in physical activity from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy was a risk factor for excessive GWG. Although most women decreased their physical activity during pregnancy, only those pregnant women who were physically active pre-pregnancy could show the kind of large decrease that resulted in excessive GWG. Health professionals should continue to develop strategies for counteracting the problematic trend of decreasing PA during pregnancy among low-risk pregnant women.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia-Jing Sun & Li-Yin Chien, 2021. "Decreased Physical Activity during Pregnancy Is Associated with Excessive Gestational Weight Gain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12597-:d:691096
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shiue‐Shan Weng & Yu‐Hsiang Lee & Li‐Yin Chien, 2020. "Physical activity, sitting time and sleep duration before and during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes: A prospective panel study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(17-18), pages 3494-3505, September.
    2. Cheng Chen & Xianglong Xu & Yan Yan, 2018. "Estimated global overweight and obesity burden in pregnant women based on panel data model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, August.
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