The association of physical activity during pregnancy with birthweight extremes: A scoping review

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport 2024-10, Vol.27 (10), p.684-690
• Main Authors: Watt, Grace Emma, Hubbard, Madeline E., Mottola, Michelle F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Athletes; Babies; Birth weight; Chronic disease; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; Cohort analysis; Collaboration; Exercise; Gestational diabetes; Keywords; Large for gestational age; Longitudinal studies; Macrosomia; Newborn babies; Physical fitness; Pregnancy; Questionnaires; Small for gestational age; Strength training
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.05.016

Birthweight (BW) indicates newborn health and is a risk factor for development of chronic diseases later in life. The aim was to investigate whether or not prenatal physical activity (PA) influences BW extremes and how PA influences BW extremes in those diagnosed with pregnancy-related diseases. We performed a scoping review. Searches were completed on five databases and studies identified were uploaded to Covidence. Across the five databases 3114 studies were identified and after screening, 69 of these studies were used for the final review. Of the 61 studies that considered low BW (LBW)/small for gestational age (SGA) infants, the majority of results (69 %) indicated that PA during pregnancy had no significant impact on LBW or SGA infants. In addition, 11 % of studies reported a significant decrease in the prevalence of LBW infants, however two studies (3 %) reported a significant increase in LBW or SGA infants, likely relating to individuals with high body mass index and poor adherence to PA. Of the 41 studies that did report LGA/macrosomia, 34 % reported that PA significantly reduced the prevalence of higher BW infants. One study reported the association between meeting exercise recommendations and reducing the odds of LGA infants in those with pregnancy-related diseases. We provide evidence on the association of prenatal PA with BW extremes. It is suggested that prenatal PA does not increase the risk of delivering LBW/SGA infants and may reduce the prevalence of large BW infants. Further research is needed to confirm these relationships and explain their underlying mechanisms.