Women with gestational diabetes are at increased risk of excessive pregnancy weight gain, increased fetal weight and difficulty losing weight after delivery. Researchers recently completed a study of 790 women comparing pregnancy weight gain among women who exercised during pregnancy and women who did not. The results of the study were published in the journal Clinical Medicine and Research.
Physical activity reports were gathered from study participants using the PPAQ (Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire). Women reported activities such as yoga, swimming, jogging, walking, and team sports. Among women who exercised, the risk of gaining excessive weight as defined as weight gain in the upper quartile was reduced. The reduction occurred in all women who reported being physically active, regardless of the specific physical activity.
Conclusion: Exercise is healthy, for most pregnant women, but it is especially important for women with gestational diabetes. Daly exercise can reduce pregnancy weight gain, which may directly impact fetal weight and weight loss after delivery.
Source: Ehrlich S, Sternfeld B, Hu KU, Hedderson M, Mevi A, Brown S, Kubo A, Ferrara A. A3-4: Recreational Physical Activity and Gestational Weight Gain in Women with Gestational Diabetes. Clin Med Res. 2013 Sep;11(3):170.
