Exercise during pregnancy has a preventative effect on excessive maternal weight gain and gestational diabetes. A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

El objetivo del trabajo fue examinar el efecto de un programa de ejercicio físico durante el embarazo sobre la ganancia de peso materno y la diabetes gestacional

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain is associated with several adverse events andpathologies during pregnancy.Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise program through-out pregnancy on maternal weight gain and prevalence of gestational diabetes.Method: A randomized controlled trial was designed that included an exercise interventiongroup (EG) and standard care control group (CG). The exercise intervention included moderateaerobic exercise performed three days per week (50---55 minutes per session) for 8---10 weeks to38---39 weeks gestation.Results: 594 pregnant women were assessed for eligibility and 456 were included (EG n = 234;CG n = 222). The results showed a higher percentage of pregnant women gained excessive weightin the CG than in the EG (30.2% vs 20.5% respectively; odds ratio, 0.597; 95% confidence inter-val, 0.389---0.916; p = 0.018). Similarly, the prevalence of gestational diabetes was significantlyhigher in the CG than the EG (6.8% vs 2.6% respectively; odds ratio, 0.363; 95% confidenceinterval, 0.138---0.953; p = 0.033).Conclusion: The results of this trial indicate that exercise throughout pregnancy can reducethe risk of excessive maternal weight gain and gestational diabetes.