Pregnancy as a Motivating Factor for Exercise
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the benefits of physical activity during pregnancy, only 33% of pregnant women engage in gestational exercise. Our objective is to determine whether physical activity prior to pregnancy is related to exercise during gestation.
Methodology: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with a group of pregnant women who participated in an exercise program during pregnancy. Data on their physical activity prior to pregnancy were collected using the PARmed-X questionnaire.
Results: Of the total number of women who exercised during pregnancy, 52.6% (n=10) had no prior history of physical activity before gestation. The association analysis for the relationship between prior exercise and physical activity during pregnancy yielded a value p = 0.102, without reaching statistical significance.
Conclusions: No significant association was found between pre-pregnancy exercise and physical activity during gestation. However, a noteworthy finding is that many women who had not previously exercised began doing so during pregnancy after receiving proper information and understanding its benefits. This highlights the crucial role of education and access to structured programs in promoting physical activity during pregnancy. It is essential to develop public policies that ensure universal, free, and equitable access to exercise programs for pregnant women.
Downloads
References
Acuña S, Benett K, Mieres A, Torres A, Vignolo L, Guzzo V, et al. Prevalencia de la actividad física en mujeres embarazadas 2019: Hospital Regional Salto - Hospital Escuela del Litoral Paysandú, Uruguay (Monografía). 2019.
Lacagnina S. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Am J Lifestyle Med. 2019;14(1):47-50. Publicado 2019 Oct 11. doi: 10.1177/1559827619879694
Briozzo L, editor. Integrando los derechos sexuales y reproductivos en la clínica desde el compromiso profesional de conciencia. Montevideo;2020.
Mourtakos SP, Tambalis KD, Panagiotakos DB, Antonogeorgos G, Arnaoutis G, Karteroliotis K, et al. Maternal lifestyle characteristics during pregnancy, and the risk of obesity in the offspring: A study of 5,125 children. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015;15:66. doi:10.1186/s12884-015-0498-z.
Zheng J, Zhou LY, Xiao XH. Maternal exercise and its beneficial effects on glucose metabolism in offspring. Chin Med J (Engl). 2020;133(7):863–7. doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000000731.
Hoek A, Wang Z, van Oers AM, Groen H, Cantineau AEP. Effects of preconception weight loss after lifestyle intervention on fertility outcomes and pregnancy complications. Fertil Steril. 2022;118(3):456–62. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.07.020.
Feldman F, Alonso V, López Radcenco V, Viroga S, Vitureira G. Evaluación retrospectiva: Obesidad y sobrepeso como factores de riesgo para eventos adversos obstétricos-perinatales. Arch Ginecol Obstet. 2018;56(1):1–52.
Martínez-Vizcaíno V, Sanabria-Martínez G, Fernández-Rodríguez R, Cavero-Redondo I, Pascual-Morena C, Álvarez-Bueno C, et al. Exercise during pregnancy for preventing gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders: An umbrella review of randomized controlled trials and an updated meta-analysis. BJOG. 2023;130(3):264–75. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17304.
Mottola MF, Davenport MH, Ruchat SM, et al. Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(21):1339–46. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099758.
Lozada-Tequeanes AL, Campero-Cuenca MLE, Hernández B, RubalcavaPeñafiel L, Neufeld LM. Barreras y facilitadores para actividad física durante el embarazo y posparto en mujeres pobres de México. Salud Publica Mex. 2015;57(3):242–51.
Nascimento SL, Surita FG, Godoy AC, Kasawara KT, Morais SS. Physical activity patterns and factors related to exercise during pregnancy: A crosssectional study. PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0128953. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128953.
Marquez DX, Bustamante EE, Bock BC, Markenson G, Tovar A, ChasanTaber L. Perspectives of Latina and non-Latina white women on barriers and facilitators to exercise in pregnancy. Women Health. 2009;49(6):505–21. doi: 10.1080/03630240903427114.
Copyright (c) 2025 Vanessa guzzo, Leonel Briozzo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors retain their copyright and assign to the journal the right of first publication of their work, which will be simultaneously subject to the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. that allows sharing the work as long as the initial publication in this magazine is indicated.
