Physical activity during pregnancy in obese and normal-weight women as assessed by pedometer.
OBJECTIVE
To compare physical activity as assessed by a pedometer in obese and normal-weight pregnant women at different gestational ages. To evaluate the use of a pedometer in pregnancy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Department of obstetrics and gynecology in a university hospital in Copenhagen.


METHODS
338 pregnant women, 175 normal-weight women with body mass index (BMI) 20-25 kg/m(2) and 163 obese women with BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2).


METHODS
Physical activity was assessed by a pedometer (Yamax Digiwalker SW-700/701) on seven consecutive days in six different groups: normal-weight or obese at gestational ages 11-13, 18-22, and 36-38, and expressed as median number of daily steps during a whole week, working days, and weekends.


METHODS
Relation between BMI and physical activity during pregnancy and compliance with wearing the pedometer.


RESULTS
Noncompliance was more frequent in obese than in normal-weight women (19 vs. 10%, p < 0.001). Physical activity was lower in obese women at all gestational ages (6,482, 7,446, 4,626 steps/day in obese vs. 7,558, 8,865, 6,289 steps/day in normal-weight, p < 0.05-0.11). The greatest difference between obese and normal-weight women was seen during weekends. The level of physical activity was higher in both groups at mid-gestation than during earlier and later gestational ages.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical activity in pregnant women can be assessed by the pedometer and the method was well accepted by the women; however, the compliance was lower in the obese. The level of physical activity differs between different gestational groups and is lower in obese than in normal-weight women, especially during leisure time.
Renault
Kristina
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. krta@dadlnet.dk
Nørgaard
Kirsten
K
Andreasen
Kirsten Riis
KR
Secher
Niels Jørgen
NJ
Nilas
Lisbeth
L
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*