0
0
A groundbreaking study has revealed that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of preterm birth among women diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GD). Published on December 19 in JAMA Network Open, the research highlights the potential benefits of tailored exercise guidelines for pregnant women.
Dr. Wanglong Gou and a team of researchers from Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine in China analyzed data from 1,427 women with GD who wore accelerometers to track their physical activity. The study found an inverse correlation between the duration and intensity of MVPA and preterm birth risk.
For every additional 30 minutes of daily MVPA, the odds of preterm birth decreased by 36% (odds ratio: 0.64). Similarly, the fraction of energy expenditure attributed to MVPA reduced the risk (odds ratio: 0.69). The protective effect increased with higher daily MVPA durations, peaking at approximately 74 minutes per day.
Interestingly, the pattern of activity—whether concentrated into a few days or spread out more evenly—did not significantly alter the benefit. This suggests that flexibility in exercise scheduling can still yield substantial advantages.
“These findings provide key evidence for the health benefits of MVPA during pregnancy and lay the foundation for establishing physical activity guidelines for pregnant women with GD,” the researchers wrote.
Gestational diabetes affects up to 10% of pregnancies globally and is linked to complications such as preterm birth, underscoring the importance of such preventive strategies.
The study’s authors hope their work will inform future guidelines, encouraging healthcare providers to incorporate physical activity recommendations into prenatal care for women with GD.
More Information:
Wanglong Gou et al., Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Preterm Birth Among Women With Gestational Diabetes, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.51799
