BackgroundExcessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy and obstetric complications. The “healthy living in pregnancy” (GeliS) study was performed in a routine care setting with the aim of limiting excessive GWG. The purpose of this secondary analysis is to evaluate the effect of the intervention on physical activity (PA) behaviour and to assess the impact of PA intensities on GWG.MethodsThe cluster-randomised, multicentre GeliS trial was performed in a routine care setting alongside scheduled prenatal visits. Pregnant women with a pre-pregnancy BMI between 18.5 and 40.0 kg/m2 were either assigned to the control group receiving usual care or to the intervention group. Participants in the intervention group attended three antenatal counselling sessions on diet and PA and one additional postpartum session. Data on PA behaviour were collected twice, before the end of the 12th (baseline) and after the 29th week of gestation using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire.ResultsPA data were available for 1061 (93%) participants in the intervention and 1040 (93%) in the control group. Women in the intervention group reported significant improvements in the levels of total PA (p < 0.001), total PA of light intensity and above (p < 0.001), moderate-intensity (p = 0.024) and vigorous-intensity activities (p = 0.002) as well as sport activities (p < 0.001) in late pregnancy compared to the control group. The proportion of women meeting the international PA recommendations in late pregnancy was significantly higher in the intervention (64%) versus the control group (49%, p < 0.001). Activities of light-intensity and above (p = 0.006), light-intensity (p = 0.002) and vigorous-intensity (p = 0.014) in late pregnancy were inversely associated with total GWG.ConclusionWe found significant evidence of improvements in the PA pattern of pregnant women receiving lifestyle counselling within the framework of routine care. Most PA intensities were inversely associated with total GWG which indicates that PA across different intensities should be promoted.Trial registrationNCT01958307, ClinicalTrials.gov, retrospectively registered 9 October, 2013.

Prenatal physical activity (PA) was discussed to decrease the incidence of obstetric and neonatal complications. In this secondary cohort analysis of the cluster-randomized GeliS (“healthy living in pregnancy”) trial, associations between prenatal PA and such outcomes were investigated. PA behavior was assessed twice, before or during the 12th week (baseline, T0) and after the 29th week of gestation (T1), using the self-reported Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Obstetric and neonatal data were collected in the routine care setting. Data were available for 87.2% (n = 1994/2286) of participants. Significant differences between the offspring of women who adhered to PA recommendations at T1 and offspring of inactive women were found in birth weight (p = 0.030) but not in other anthropometric parameters. Sedentary behavior was inversely associated with birth weight at T1 (p = 0.026) and, at both time points, with an increase in the odds of low birth weight (T0: p = 0.004, T1: p = 0.005). Light-intensity PA at T0 marginally increased the odds of caesarean section (p = 0.032), but neither moderate-intensity nor vigorous-intensity activity modified the risk for caesarean delivery at any time point. The present analyses demonstrated associations between prenatal PA and some neonatal and obstetric outcomes.

SummaryBackgroundLifestyle interventions in pregnancy may influence postpartum development and obesity risk in offspring. The impact of lifestyle interventions as health system‐based approaches is unclear.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of an antenatal lifestyle intervention conducted as public health approach on infant development and feeding practices.MethodsWe followed offspring born to women participating in the cluster‐randomised GeliS trial who received usual care (CG) or repeated lifestyle counselling (IG). We collected data on offspring development and complementary feeding until the 12thmonth postpartum.ResultsOf the 1998 mother‐child pairs, 1783 completed the follow‐up. Mean infant weight at 12 months was comparable between groups (IG: 9497.9 ± 1137.0 g; CG: 9433.4 ± 1055.2 g;P= .177). There was no significant evidence of differences in sex‐ and age‐adjusted z‐scores or in the odds of offspring being overweight. More infants in the IG received whole‐grain products compared to the CG (95.6%vs. 90.8%;P= .003). Despite small differences in the timing of introducing solid foods, there were no further significant differences in the pattern of complementary feeding.ConclusionsThe antenatal lifestyle intervention embedded in routine care did not substantially influence infant anthropometrics and is thus unlikely to impact future development.