Physical activity patterns during pregnancy in a diverse population of women.
BACKGROUND
Participation in physical activity during pregnancy may reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia and help prevent excess maternal weight gain. However, studies describing patterns and correlates of activity during pregnancy are sparse. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe total physical activity (household/caregiving, occupational, leisure, sports/exercise, and transportation) and correlates of total physical activity in a racially and economically diverse sample of 233 prenatal care patients.


METHODS
Bilingual interviewers administered three 24-hour physical activity recalls among women in the first trimester (11%), second trimester (36%), and third trimester (53%) of pregnancy.


RESULTS
Median total energy expenditure (MET-hours/day) was similar among women in the first and second trimesters (33.4 and 33.8 MET-hours/day, respectively) and was slightly, but not statistically significantly, lower among women in the third trimester (32.6 MET-hours/day). Moderate intensity activity followed a similar pattern, being statistically significantly lower among women in the third trimester; vigorous intensity activity was low among women in each trimester of pregnancy. In terms of activity type, household/ caregiving activity was the largest contributor to both total and combined moderate and vigorous intensity energy expenditure among women in each trimester, constituting 24%-40% of total energy expenditure. Overall, total energy expenditure was highest in white non-Hispanic women and positively associated with increasing education and a history of previous live births (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study highlight the importance of including household/caregiving and occupational activities in addition to sports/exercise activities in the assessment of total energy expenditure during pregnancy.
Schmidt
Michael D
MD
Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Pekow
Penelope
P
Freedson
Patty S
PS
Markenson
Glenn
G
Chasan-Taber
Lisa
L
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data