Physical activity and maternal obesity: cardiovascular adaptations, exercise recommendations, and pregnancy outcomes

• Published in: Nutrition reviews Vol. 71; no. 10; pp. S31 - S36
• Main Author: Mottola, Michelle F
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Wiley 01-10-2013; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Actigraphy; Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Exercise - physiology; exercise prescription; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; healthy lifestyle; Humans; Lifestyles; Maternal & child health; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; obese pregnant women; Obesity; Obesity - physiopathology; Obesity - prevention & control; Physical fitness; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; walking; Walking - physiology; Weight Gain - physiology; Womens health; Young Adult; Physical exercise; Human; Prescription; Obesity; Prognosis; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; exercise prescription; Recommendation; Pregnancy; Locomotion; Walking; obese pregnant women; Female; healthy lifestyle; Nutritional status; Adaptation; walking
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/nure.12064

Although a healthy lifestyle approach is intuitive for obese pregnant women, no guidelines currently exist to manage these women throughout pregnancy. Women who are medically prescreened for contraindications can engage in a walking program three to four times per week, starting at 25 min per session and adding 2 min per week until reaching 40 min, with sessions continuing until delivery. A target heart rate of 102–124 beats per minute should be promoted for women 20–29 years of age and a rate of 101–120 beats per minute for women 30–39 years of age. A pedometer step count of 10,000 steps per day is suggested as a goal, as this level of activity provides important health benefits. Combining healthy eating with a walking plan prevents excessive weight gain during pregnancy and promotes a healthy fetal environment.