Correlates of Physical Activity Engagement among Pregnant Women with Overweight and Obesity

• Published in: Women's health issues 2020-09, Vol.30 (5), p.393-400
• Main Authors: Donofry, Shannon D., Germeroth, Lisa J., Kolko Conlon, Rachel P., Venditti, Elizabeth M., Levine, Michele D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Energy Metabolism; Exercise - physiology; Female; Humans; Obesity - complications; Overweight - complications; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Walking; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1049-3867; 1878-4321; 1878-4321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.06.001

Excess weight during pregnancy increases risk for adverse obstetrical outcomes. Physical activity (PA) may buffer these effects, although it is unclear what factors are associated with PA in women who begin pregnancy with overweight/obesity. The present study sought to characterize the demographic and psychological correlates of PA among women with prepregnancy overweight/obesity. Pregnant women (N = 249; mean age, 28.48 ± 5.48 years; mean body mass index, 34.13 ± 7.07 kg/m2) at 12–20 weeks of gestation (mean, 15.68 ± 2.44 weeks of gestation) completed ratings of perceived stress and depressive symptoms and were interviewed using the pregnancy version of the Eating Disorders Examination. The Paffenbarger Physical Activity Survey was administered via interview to estimate energy expenditure. Continuous outcomes were evaluated via linear regression, while logistic regression was conducted to assess likelihood of meeting PA guidelines. Mean weekly duration of moderate to vigorous PA was 109.50 ± 248.17 minutes, with 21% of women meeting federal PA guidelines of 150 minutes or more. Higher perceived stress (β = –0.217; p = .02) and eating psychopathology (β = –0.213; p