Association between physical activity in obese pregnant women and offspring health.

BACKGROUND

Obesity in pregnancy is associated with macrosomia, neontatal fat mass and increased obesity and diabetes in the offspring. Physical activity during pregnancy may mediate the relationship between maternal insulin action and infant body composition. Interventions to increase physical activity might therefore improve metabolic outcomes for pregnant women and reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes in their offspring. The UK Pregnancy Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT) is a complex intervention, designed to improve pregnancy outcome through dietary change and increased physical activity. The analysis presented here includes data from 183 women recruited to the pilot phase of UPBEAT.

METHODS

Physical activity was assessed by accelerometer at recruitment, at 27-28weeks' gestation and at 35-36weeks' gestation. The relationship between sedentary behaviour and moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and infant body composition at birth was examined using Spearman partial correlations.

RESULTS

Maternal sedentary time at recruitment was inversely associated with neonatal abdominal circumference (-0.333, p=0.016), but at 35-36ẃeeks' gestation was positively associated with neonatal abdominal circumference (0.435, p=0.023). Sedentary time was not associated with these outcomes at 27-28weeks' gestation. MVPA at 35-36weeks' gestation was inversely associated with neonatal abdominal circumference (-0.466, p=0.014). No associations between physical activity and birthweight were apparent.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that physical activity during pregnancy is associated with infant body composition and that maternal physical activity is an appropriate target for intervention to improve infant outcomes. UPBEAT is funded by NIHR-UK (RP-0407-10452).