Fitness Improvement in Obese, Pregnant Women: an Intervention Trial
- Conditions
- PregnancyPhysical ActivityObesity
- Interventions
- Other: Standard CareOther: Exercise intervention
- Registration Number
- NCT01610323
- Lead Sponsor
- CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval
- Brief Summary
In pregnancy, the adoption or pursuit of a sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, maternal and childhood obesity, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, cesarean section and delivery of large-for-gestational-age infants (LGA).
The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that obese, pregnant women following a supervised moderate intensity physical conditioning program during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy will maintain a higher level of physical activity up to the end of pregnancy, as compared to women in the control group. We will also conduct a pilot study on the feasibility to examine the effects of the intervention on maternal fitness and neonatal anthropometry.
- Detailed Description
Looking at the multiple needs of pregnant women with obesity, physical conditioning may offer a great opportunity to improve fitness and to decrease cardio-metabolic disturbances, to prevent excessive weight gain, to improve general health status, and to reduce health care utilization. Furthermore, beneficial effects of fitness on adverse maternal health outcomes related to obesity might decrease the development of long-term obesity and metabolic repercussions in the offspring.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) recommends that all women without contraindication be encouraged to participate in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises as part of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Despite these recommendations, obese women are inactive during pregnancy and are currently still at high risk of poor physical fitness.
Thus, although exercise clearly improves maternal health status and thus potentially prevents adverse perinatal outcomes, obese pregnant women poorly adhere to experts' recommendations about the need for exercise during pregnancy. Therefore, this situation justifies the need to develop adapted strategies aimed at increasing the implementation of guideline recommendations in this population.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 50
- pregnant women 18 years or older
- single pregnancy
- delivery at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec
- pre-pregnancy BMI ≥30 kg/m2
- multiple pregnancy
- diabetes or chronic hypertension prior to pregnancy
- uncontrolled thyroid problems
- exercise contraindications
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Control group Standard Care Standard care Exercise group Exercise intervention Exercise intervention
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Weekly time spent at physical activity of moderate intensity and above At 36 weeks of gestation Accelerometry data (minutes per week spent over selected cutpoints)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Gestational weight gain At 36 weeks of gestation Weight in kg at 36 weeks - weight in kg at 14 weeks
Muscular fitness At 28 wks of gestation Endurance and strength of lower and upper limbs as assessed by an isokinetic dynamometer.
Cardiorespiratory fitness At 28 weeks of gestation O2 consumption (ml\*kg-1\*min-1) at the anaerobic threshold.
Energy Expenditure At 36 weeks of gestation According to the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ)
Neonatal anthropometry At delivery Birth weight, length and skinfolds
Fetal growth At 28 weeks of gestation Ultrasound and doppler
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec
🇨🇦Quebec, Canada