Factors Associated With Leisure Time Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Young Women 2-7 Years After Delivery of a Pregnancy in the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study

PurposeIdentify demographic, behavioral lifestyle, psychological, and clinical factors associated with suboptimal activity patterns several years after a first pregnancy and delivery.DesignCross-sectional, secondary analysis.Setting and SampleWomen (n = 2843) from eight U.S. centers assessed 2-7 years after delivery in the nuMom2b Heart Health Study.MeasuresSelf-reported leisure time moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were used to define patterns based on meeting recommendations for MVPA (active at ≥150 minutes/week) and leisure time SB (low SB at ≤3 hours/day). Factors (demographic, behavioral lifestyle, psychological, and clinical) assessed at study visits and hypothesized to be related to MVPA-SB patterns were included.AnalysisMultinomial logistic regression with forward selection identified factors associated with MVPA-SB patterns.ResultsParticipants most frequently reported the optimal active + low SB pattern (37.8%). Modifiable factors significantly associated with suboptimal patterns included lower diet quality (odds ratios [OR] 0.18-0.62; <i>P</i> < 0.001), higher body mass index (BMI) (ORs 1.15-2.49; <i>P</i> = 0.001), less sleep (ORs 1.27-1.46; <i>P</i> = 0.0013), and higher perceived stress (ORs 1.20-1.52, <i>P</i> = 0.0015). Lower income (ORs 0.39-0.60, <i>P</i> = 0.0002), lower education (ORs 0.38-0.40; <i>P</i> = 0.0323) and working/studying full-time (ORs 1.42-1.97, <i>P</i>-0.0021) were also associated with suboptimal patterns.ConclusionsFuture research designing "sit less, move more" interventions following pregnancy and delivery could consider simultaneous intervention for modifiable factors and tailored strategies for low income/education and full-time working/student women who may face additional barriers.