Associations Of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And Sleep In Pregnancy With Excessive Gestational Weight Gain

Pregnant women with excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) have an increased risk of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cesarean section, and fetal macrosomia. It is critical to better understand potential determinants of EGWG to inform future interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes. PURPOSE: The study aims to test the hypothesis that suboptimal physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep are associated with EGWG. METHODS: The study used data from the Pregnancy 24/7 study, conducted at the Universities of Iowa, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia. State of the art methods were deployed to assess and integrate device-based physical activity and sedentary behavior (activPAL3 micro) and sleep (Actiwatch Spectrum Plus), which were worn concurrently over a 7-day period. Total rate of GWG was calculated using the Institute of Medicine guidelines based on pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational age at delivery and classified as inadequate/adequate vs. excessive. Analyses examined associations of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep with EGWG using t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, or chi-square tests. RESULTS: Among 441 participants (mean age 30.6 ± 4.6 years; 17.4% underrepresented minority; 22.8% rural), 17% had inadequate, 32.9% adequate, and 50.1% EGWG. Associations between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep with EGWG were largely null, except for slightly longer sleep duration in the EGWG group during the first trimester (Table). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep had limited associations with EGWG. Future studies should consider exploring alternate modifiable behaviors to reduce the risk of EGWG.