Objectively recorded physical activity and the association with gestational diabetes

Abstract

The aim of this population-based study was to assess the association between objectively recorded physical activity (PA) in early gestation and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) identified at 28 weeks of gestation in a multi-ethnic cohort of healthy pregnant women in Oslo, Norway. In total, 759 women were included. In early gestation (<20 weeks), light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity PA and number of steps were objectively recorded (SenseWear™ Armband Pro3), and self-reported PA, demographics, and anthropometrics were collected. The 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 28 weeks of gestation. Women with GDM had fewer objectively recorded steps (mean 7964 steps/day vs 8879 steps/day, P < 0.001) and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (median 62 min/day vs 75 min/day, P = 0.004) in early gestation than women without GDM. Additionally, 30% of women with GDM compared with 44% (P < 0.001) of women without GDM self-reported regular PA before pregnancy. The significant inverse association between objectively recorded steps per day in early gestation and GDM persisted after adjustment for ethnic origin, weeks of gestation, age, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, early life socioeconomic position, and self-reported regular PA before pregnancy. The adjusted odds ratio for GDM decreased 19% per standard deviation (3159 steps) increase in objectively recorded steps per day (P = 0.039). Daily life PA in early gestation measured as steps/day was associated with lower risk of GDM.

Exercise As Therapy for Gestational Diabetes - What’s the Evidence?

“…Health questionnaire was completed upon recruitment and glucose International Journal of Applied Exercise Physiology www.ijaep.com tolerance testing performed at 28 weeks. It found physical activity in daily life in gestation was associated with a lower risk of GDM and that the adjusted odds ratio for GDM decreased by 19% per standard deviation (3159 steps) increase in steps per day [21]. This study built on previous work that found protective trends of increasing activity level for the development of gestational diabetes however these results were not statistically significant and thus could not further support the hypothesis [22].…”

“…While not reviewing an exercise program specifically a 2014 study reviewed rates of gestational diabetes against objectively recorded physical activity [21] This study recruited 759 women from multiple sites and were included if they met multiple geographic and linguistic criteria, as well as being <20 weeks pregnant. Health questionnaire was completed upon recruitment and glucose International Journal of Applied Exercise Physiology www.ijaep.com tolerance testing performed at 28 weeks.…”

Ethnic differences in postpartum weight retention: a Norwegian cohort study

“…History of regular physical activity prior to pregnancy was self-reported using the following response categories: never, <1 year, 1-5 years, 6-10 years or >10 years. 26 The response category never was recoded into not regular and the other categories were merged into regular pre-pregnancy physical activity. This variable was used as a proxy for the habitual physical activity pattern.…”

“…Data from women with a minimum of 1 day (defined as ≥19.2 hours, 80% of the day) of recorded data were included in analysis. 26 Data are reported as mean steps per day or categorised as ≥10 000 or <10 000 steps per day and steps by 1000 per day.…”

“…26 The response category never was recoded into not regular and the other categories were merged into regular pre-pregnancy physical activity. This variable was used as a proxy for the habitual physical activity pattern.…”