A foetal energy balance equation based on maternal exercise and diet

Abstract

Empirical data indicate that the maternal diet composition has a direct impact on foetal fat mass and resulting birth weights. Weight-bearing maternal exercise influences the placental volume, which has also been correlated to birth weight. A foetal energy balance equation, based on the first law of thermodynamics, that incorporates maternal diet and exercise is developed. Model parameters and validity are evaluated using published data.

A dynamical systems model of intrauterine fetal growth

“…To address this gap, we use intensive longitudinal data from Healthy Mom Zone (HMZ) [14], an ongoing trial, which is an individually-tailored, adaptive intervention to manage weight gain in overweight and obese pregnant women. While the model developed in this paper extends from prior work [22, 25], it grounds a more complete theoretical understanding for how external maternal factors (e.g., daily energy intake and physical activity) influence fetal growth profiles. The following are number of particular advancements made in this work:…”

“…Modeling intrauterine growth has received some prior examination [22]; however, further modeling efforts are needed to better understand how prenatal status ‘programs’ fetal growth [23, 24]. To address this gap, we use intensive longitudinal data from Healthy Mom Zone (HMZ) [14], an ongoing trial, which is an individually-tailored, adaptive intervention to manage weight gain in overweight and obese pregnant women.…”

“…Building from the model in [22], the proposed energy balance model in this work features a single, easy-to-measure output (total fetal weight). In addition to grounding a better theoretical understanding of external factors and pre-existing conditions directly influence intrauterine fetal weight growth, this reformulation highlights less expensive and invasive requirements for estimating individualized model parameters; measurements of total fetal weight can be far more reliable than measurements of body composition (more so in the first trimester [26]).…”

Efeitos do treinamento físico durante a gestação sobre a evolução ponderal, glicemia e colesterolemia de ratos adultos submetidos à desnutrição perinatal

“…C P U P T P T + U P Therefore, some mechanisms which can theoretically support the physical training attenuation activity can be suggested: increase in placental volume, increase in the blood flow to the placenta after the exercise, increase in the passage of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, increase in the maternal body lean mass 33 and increase in the oxygen consumption at rest 16 . It is worth mentioning that all these effects are directly related with the effort magnitude.…”

Why Do Exercise and Dietary Restriction During Pregnancy Affect Glucose Tolerance in Opposite Ways?

“…Fragmentary and often contradictory information implicates exercise during pregnancy in changes in placental size and vascularization, fetal body mass, and the rate of organ growth (16), while the exposure to dietary restriction or overnutrition during pregnancy can affect the rate of fetal growth (8)(9)(10) and individual organ size (17). This topic would benefit from systematic research and the integration of findings.…”