The physical activity and sedentary behavior of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Although physical activity is recommended as a measure for treatment and management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), little is known about the status of sedentary behavior, barriers and enablers to exercise, and the needs for exercise guidance in pregnant women with GDM.

AIM

The objectives of this study were to investigate the status of physical activity, sedentary behaviors and needs for exercise guidance in pregnant women with GDM, and explore its barriers, enablers and determinants.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect the data of exercise, sedentary behavior and barriers/enablers to exercise. Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to evaluate the physical activity. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression was conducted to analyze the determinants of exercise among pregnant women with GDM.

FINDINGS

A total of 371 questionnaires were collected. The exercise compliance rate was only 27.42%. 41% of pregnant women with GDM had sedentary time more than 6h per day. 50.9% of participants had sedentary lifestyle. The most common barriers and enablers to physical activity were pregnancy symptoms or discomfort (32.1%) and easier glycemic control (88.9%), respectively. Advanced age (≥35 years old), low capita monthly family income, and the number of sedentary-lifestyle days (OR=1.227, 95%CI 1.090-1.382, P=0.001) were the independent risk factors for failing to meet exercise standard among pregnant women.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Health care providers should provide interventions based on reducing sedentary behavior and increasing moderate physical activity to minimize the potential health problems in pregnant women with GDM.